Library of risk of bias tools

Downs & Black Tool

Study design(s) targeted by the tool Observational studies (mixed designs)observational-studies Randomized controlled trials (RCT)randomized-controlled-trial-rct
Additional details on designs NA
Tool area Health
Link to the tool Access the paper reporting the Down & Black tool

Details

Website
Primary publication Downs SH, Black N. The feasibility of creating a checklist for the assessment of the methodological quality both of randomised and non-randomised studies of health care interventions. J Epidemiol Community Health 1998;52(6)
DOI 10.1136/jech.52.6.377
Guidance document
Training

None known – please contact us if you are aware of any training that should be listed here.

Language English
Translations

None known – please contact us if you are aware of any translations that should be listed here

Record last updated 15/08/2023

Related tools and Publications

Previous versions

None

Updated versions

None

Related tools

None

Evaluations

None known – please contact us if you are aware of any evaluations that should be listed here

Other publications

None known – please contact us if you are aware of any publications that should be listed here

Key Criteria

Focuses on risk of bias, or makes a distinction between items that assess risk of bias and other aspects of study quality No
Offers a method to reach either a domain specific or overall assessment of risk of bias Yes
Used in at least one review that none of the tool authors were co-authors on or is an update to a previously recommended LATITUDES key tool Yes
Tool development involving a range of stakeholders from different disciplines (e.g. methodologists, statisticians, clinicians) No
Avoids recommending use of summary numerical quality scores No