AMSTAR 2 Materials

AMSTAR (A MeaSurement Tool to Assess systematic Reviews) is a widely recognized instrument designed to evaluate the methodological quality of systematic reviews. It assesses critical aspects such as study selection, data extraction, and the synthesis of findings to ensure transparency and rigour. AMSTAR 2 is an updated version that extends the original tool to incorporate additional criteria, allowing for the evaluation of systematic reviews that include randomized and non-randomized studies.
Below, we provide a selection of links to AMSTAR and AMSTAR 2 materials that may be beneficial for the B-SLR framework. We encourage authors to explore these materials that are directly available on the official AMSTAR website.

•  AMSTAR 2 paper:  https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.j4008
  The paper presents AMSTAR 2 protocol. The updated protocol enhances the tool’s capacity to evaluate the risk of bias and other critical factors, making it more comprehensive and suitable for a broader range of systematic reviews.

• AMSTAR 2 Guidance Document: https://amstar.ca/docs/AMSTAR%202-Guidance-document.pdf
  This c guide explains the 16 AMSTAR 2 items. It also includes practical advice on how to interpret the results and apply the tool in various contexts, enhancing the ability of researchers and clinicians to evaluate the quality of systematic reviews critically. 

• AMSTAR 2 Checklist Generator:  https://amstar.ca/Amstar_Checklist.php
  It provides a user-friendly, structured interface that allows reviewers to evaluate critical aspects such as study selection, risk of bias, and data synthesis. The generator produces a checklist summarizing the review’s strengths and weaknesses, aiding in transparent and comprehensive quality appraisals. A printable version is available here.