Table 3 Examples of eligible studies for Cochrane systematic review of methods to assess equity

1. Recruitment methods to engage disadvantaged populations in trials

• Study of the effect of incentive payments in 5 RCTs on recruitment of ethnic minorities [65]

2. Reporting population characteristics

• Study of 100 RCTs in four leading medical journals assessed for reporting of sociodemographic characteristics in “Table 1” [19]

3. Subgroup analyses

• Study of 169 cardiovascular RCTs for quality of reporting and conducting sex/gender subgroup analyses [66]

4. Applicability of evidence

• Study of reasons for exclusion of participants from RCTs and effects on applicability decisions [39]