The impact of continuing bonds following bereavement: A systematic review

Figures & data

Figure 1. PRISMA Diagram reporting the study selection process. PRISMA preferred reporting guidelines for systematic reviews and meta-analysis. From: Page et al. (2021). For more information, visit: http://www.prisma-statement.org/

Table 1. Summary of quality assessment of included studies using the MMAT (N = 79).

Design	Methodological quality criteria	Yes n (%)	No n (%)	Can’t tell n (5)
	S1. Are there clear research questions?	76 (96)	2 (2)	1 (1)
	S2. Do the collected data allow us to address the research questions?	78 (98)	1 (1)	–
Qualitative (n = 34)	Qualitative approach appropriate?	33 (97)	–	1 (3)
	Qualitative data collection methods adequate?	33 (97)	–	1 (3)
	Findings derived from the data?	30 (88)	1 (3)	3 (9)
	Interpretation substantiated?	32 (94)	–	2 (6)
	Coherence in methodology?	32 (94)	–	2 (6)
Quantitative descriptive (n = 38)	Sampling strategy relevant to address the research question?	38 (100)	–	–
	Sample representative of the target population?	38 (100)	–	–
	Measurements appropriate?	38 (100)	–	–
	Risk of response bias low?	20 (52)	–	18 (47)
	Statistical analysis appropriate?	38 (52)	–	–
Mixed-methods (n = 7)	Adequate rationale for mixed methods?	5 (71)	1 (14)	1 (14)
	Different components effectively integrated?	6 (85)	–	1 (14)
	Integration appropriately reported?	5 (71)	–	2 (29)
	Divergencies between qualitative and quantitative data addressed?	5 (71)	–	2 (29)
	Quality criteria adhered to?	3 (43)	–	4 (57)

Page, M. J., McKenzie, J. E., Bossuyt, P. M., Boutron, I., Hoffmann, T. C., Mulrow, C. D., Shamseer, L., Tetzlaff, J. M., Akl, E. A., Brennan, S. E., Chou, R., Glanville, J., Grimshaw, J. M., Hróbjartsson, A., Lalu, M. M., Li, T., Loder, E. W., Mayo-Wilson, E., McDonald, S., … Moher, D. (2021). The PRISMA 2020 statement: an updated guideline for reporting systematic reviews. BMJ, 372, n71. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.n71

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