Literature Search Methods
A limited literature search was conducted on key resources including PubMed, The Cochrane Library (2015, Issue 3), University of York Centre for Reviews and Dissemination (CRD) databases, ECRI, Canadian and major international health technology agencies, as well as a focused Internet search. Methodological filters were applied to limit retrieval to health technology assessments, systematic reviews, meta-analyses, randomized controlled trials (RCTs), and non-randomized studies. Where possible, retrieval was limited to the human population. The search was also limited to English language documents published between January 1, 2010 and March 2, 2015.
Selection Criteria and Methods
One reviewer screened citations and selected studies. In the first level of screening, titles and abstracts were reviewed and potentially relevant articles were retrieved and assessed for inclusion. The final selection of full-text articles was based on the inclusion criteria presented in .
Exclusion Criteria
Articles were excluded if they did not meet the selection criteria outlined in , they were duplicate publications, there was no reference test, or were published prior to 2010. In addition, studies were excluded if they were conducted to adapt or assess the validity or diagnostic accuracy of a translated screening tool. These translation studies are listed in Appendix 5. Conversely, all studies that assessed diagnostic accuracy in specific clinical populations were included. Studies that assessed the accuracy of diagnostic tools for factors associated with NP such as peripheral neuropathy were excluded.
Critical Appraisal of Individual Studies
The included diagnostic studies were critically appraised using the QUADAS-2 checklist.20 Summary scores were not calculated for the included studies; rather, a review of the strengths and limitations of each included study were described and presented in tabular and graphical format.
