Answer the question

STROBE (Strengthening The Reporting of OBservational Studies in Epidemiology) Checklist

Direction: The following is a checklist of items that should be included in reports of observational studies. Use this checklist to evaluate the article by Olotu et al. Give an explanation of whether or not a particular criterion is missing in the article and the page number where a criterion is reported in the article. Do NOT write your name anywhere on the document.

Section and Item

Recommendation

Present?

Explanation

Reported on article

Page #

TITLE AND ABSTRACT

Indicated the study’s design with a commonly used term in the title or the abstract?

☐yes

☐ no

☐n/a

Provided in the abstract an informative and balanced summary of what was done and what was found?

☐yes

☐ no

☐n/a

INTRODUCTION

Background/rationale

Explained the scientific background and rationale for the investigation being reported?

☐yes

☐ no

☐n/a

Objectives

Stated specific objectives, including any pre-specified hypotheses?

☐yes

☐ no

☐n/a

METHODS

Study design

Presented key elements of study design early in the paper?

☐yes

☐ no

☐n/a