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Home · Methodology · AMSTAR-2

AMSTAR-2

AMSTAR-2 is a critical-appraisal tool for the quality of systematic reviews of interventions. It comprises 16 items; several are critical domains that most strongly affect the overall confidence in the review's results (high / moderate / low / critically low).

Applicable study designs

Systematic reviews of interventions (randomised and/or non-randomised studies).

Critical domains (examples)

  • Protocol registered before the review.
  • Adequacy of the literature search.
  • Justification of excluded studies.
  • Risk of bias considered when interpreting results.
  • Appropriateness of meta-analytic methods.

How the overall judgement is formed

Overall confidence depends on the number of flaws in critical vs non-critical domains: high with no critical flaws; critically low with more than one critical flaw.

When to use it

Used to appraise the trustworthiness of a published systematic review before relying on its conclusions.

Primary source

Shea BJ et al., BMJ 2017;358:j4008

Updated: 01.10.2026.

AMSTAR-2 assessment in Sciente

The platform applies AMSTAR-2 to full-text project articles and shows a supporting excerpt beneath each judgement.

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