Prevalence of abuse among young children with femur fractures: a systematic review

BMC Pediatrics

Table 1 Study methodology rating scales; levels of evidence scale*

Question	How common is physical abuse?	Is this factor associated with risk of physical abuse?
Level 1	Current random sample surveys (or censuses)	Systematic review of cross sectional studies with consistently applied reference standard and blinding
Level 2	Systematic review of surveys that allow matching to local circumstances	Individual cross sectional studies with consistently applied reference standard and blinding
Level 3	Non-random or non-current sample	Non-consecutive studies, or studies without consistently applied reference standards
Level 4	Case-series	Case–control studies, or “poor or non-independent reference standard
Level 5	n/a	Mechanism-based reasoning

*Adapted from the 2011 Oxford CEBM Evidence Levels of Evidence table [14]. Level may be graded down on the basis of study quality, imprecision, indirectness, or because the absolute effect size is very small. Current was defined as data from 2000 or later.

ISSN: 1471-2431