Study designs of evaluations included in the review
Randomised controlled trials (RCTs), controlled trials, cohort studies and case-control studies were included.
Specific interventions included in the review
Antenatal ultrasonic scanning.
Reference standard test against which the new test was compared
The review did not include any diagnostic accuracy studies that compared the performance of the index test with a reference standard of diagnosis.
Participants included in the review
Pregnant women were included.
Outcomes assessed in the review
Perinatal outcome was the main outcome measure, but the following were also considered: assessment of gestational age, diagnosis of foetal growth retardation, detection of multiple pregnancies, detection of clinically unsuspected fetal malformation, placental localisation, bonding and effects on maternal behaviour, doppler ultrasound of the umbilical cord to detect foetal hypoxia, the possible hazards of ultrasonography, the short- and long-term effects of ultrasound and access to services.
How were decisions on the relevance of primary studies made?
The author does not state how the papers were selected for the review, or how many of the reviewers performed the selection.