Development and validation of a risk-of-bias tool for assessing in vitro studies conducted in dentistry: The QUIN

Vidhi H Sheth; Naisargi P Shah; Romi Jain; Nikhil Bhanushali; Vishrut Bhatnagar

doi:10.1016/j.prosdent.2022.05.019

Development and validation of a risk-of-bias tool for assessing in vitro studies conducted in dentistry: The QUIN

J Prosthet Dent. 2022 Jun 22:S0022-3913(22)00345-6. doi: 10.1016/j.prosdent.2022.05.019. Online ahead of print.

Authors

Vidhi H Sheth¹, Naisargi P Shah², Romi Jain³, Nikhil Bhanushali⁴, Vishrut Bhatnagar⁵

Affiliations

¹ Postgraduate student, Department of Prosthodontics and Crown & Bridge, T. P. C. T.'s Terna Dental College, Navi Mumbai, India. Electronic address: shethvidhi@gmail.com.
² Professor and Head of Department, Department of Prosthodontics and Crown & Bridge, T. P. C. T.'s Terna Dental College, Navi Mumbai, India.
³ Professor and Head of Department, Department of Public Health Dentistry, T. P. C. T.'s Terna Dental College, Navi Mumbai, India.
⁴ Reader, Department of Public Health Dentistry, T. P. C. T.'s Terna Dental College, Navi Mumbai, India.
⁵ Reader, Department of Prosthodontics and Crown & Bridge, T. P. C. T.'s Terna Dental College, Navi Mumbai, India.

PMID: 35752496
DOI: 10.1016/j.prosdent.2022.05.019

Abstract

Statement of problem: Systematic reviews and meta-analyses have emerged as forerunners of evidence-based dentistry, but assessing the quality of the available research is essential so that it can be applied to clinical practice. While a wide variety of risk-of-bias tools are available, each specifically developed for different study designs, a comprehensive tool exclusively framed to assess the quality of in vitro dental studies is lacking.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to develop and validate a tool to evaluate the quality and risk of bias of in vitro dental studies.

Material and methods: A Delphi panel was established to conceptualize and develop the Quality Assessment Tool For In Vitro Studies (QUIN Tool). The tool was evaluated by using content validity and reliability testing methods.

Results: The QUIN Tool includes 12 points along with scoring and grading options to allow clinicians to evaluate the quality of in vitro studies. This tool shows good content validity and reliability.

Conclusions: The QUIN Tool is user-friendly, efficient, and effective for evaluating the risk of bias of in vitro studies.