Table 4 The components, rating criteria and symbol, and categories used in summarising the study evidence in the current study
| Â | Domain 1 | Domain 2 | Global (GRADE) |
|---|---|---|---|
Decision Components | Subject of public reporting (or study population) and study participants (sample) | Types of study (i.e. study designs) | Components from Domain 1 & 2 as well as implementation and adherence to intervention, dose–response gradient, precision and validity of the outcomes, uncertainty of direction of the results. |
Rating criteria | How well does the study sample represent the study population? | How strong is the study design both in terms of its external and internal validity? | How much weight does the current study add to the evidence-base taking into considerations of all the components above? |
Symbol used & categories of rating | 1*: no overlap | 1*: weakest design | √: little weight |
|  | 2*: modest overlap | 2*: moderate design | √√: moderate weight |
|  | 3*: large overlap | 3*: strong design | √√√: great weight |
| Â | 4*: complete overlap | 4*: strongest design | Â |