Table 2 Summary of quality assessment of methods and tools

Cross-sectional study using qualitative methods with secondary data collected using the WHO global questionnaire tool on assessment of national capacity for NCD prevention and control [4]

L

H

H

H

M

Cross-sectional study using mixed methods with the INFORMAS Healthy Food Environment Policy Index [5, 39, 40]

H

M

H

M

H

Cross-sectional quantitative survey using the WHO Global Nutrition Policy Review questionnaire tool [8]

M

H

H

H

H

Cross-sectional quantitative survey using a policy checklist [38]

L

L

M

M

L

Cross-sectional study using qualitative methods with the EU framework and 8 essential steps proposed by WHO [36]

L

M

M

M

M

Cross-sectional study using qualitative methods with thematic matrix for guiding the interviews [42]

H

M

H

M

H

Cross-sectional quantitative survey using Obesity Action checklist [44]

M

L

H

M

M

Cross-sectional study using qualitative methods with interview protocol [45]

L

L

M

H

L

Cross-sectional quantitative survey using the Audit Form [33]

L

L

L

M

L

Cross-sectional quantitative survey using the Implementation and Measurement Guide of Recommended Community Strategies and Measurements to Prevent Obesity in the USA [46]

M

L

M

H

M

Cross-sectional quantitative survey using scoring policy index system tool [48]

L

L

H

H

L

Cross-sectional quantitative survey using the School Wellness Policies Implementation Questionnaire tool [49]

L

L

L

H

L

Cross-sectional quantitative survey using the Healthy Schools Program tool [50]

L

L

H

H

L

Cross-sectional study using qualitative methods with interview questions based on information from document review [51]

L

L

H

M

L

Cross-sectional quantitative survey using the policy content checklist [52]

L

L

M

H

L

Cross-sectional quantitative survey using the 96-item Wellness School Assessment Tool (WellSAT-96) [47, 54]

L

M

H

H

M

Cohort survey using quantitative methods with adaptive CDC School Health Policies and Programs Study 2000 Questionnaire [37]

L

L

H

L

L

Cross-sectional study using mixed methods with open-ended questions for interviews [55]

L

L

M

M

L

Cross-sectional quantitative survey using the Local Wellness Policy Checklist [58]

L

L

M

H

L

Cross-sectional study using mixed methods with open-ended questions for the focus group [60]

L

M

M

M

M

Cross-sectional study using qualitative methods with the 2004 state semi-annual reports for 21 funded states [61]

L

L

M

H

L

Cross-sectional study using mixed methods with questionnaire tool and list of key questions for discussion [62]

H

L

N/A

M

N/A

Cross-sectional study using mixed methods with tool developed based on Australian core functions of public health as defined by the National Public Health Partnership [63]

L

L

M

M

L

Cross-sectional study using qualitative methods with open-ended questions [53]

L

L

H

M

L

Cross-sectional study using qualitative methods with interview template on policies and regulations on food marketing to children [34]

L

H

H

M

M

Indicators for measuring progress in obesity prevention (method not indicated) [64]

M

L

N/A

H

N/A

Cross-sectional quantitative survey using adapted WHO global questionnaire tool on assessment of the national capacity for NCD prevention and control in 2001 [56]

M

M

M

H

M

Process, output and outcome indicators for of implementation of policies and actions recommended in the WHO Global Strategy on Diet, Physical Activity and Health (method not indicated) [65]

H

H

N/A

M

N/A

Cross-sectional study using qualitative methods with open-ended questions [59]

L

L

N/A

H

L

Cross-sectional study using mixed methods with questionnaire and interview guide and observation form [35]

L

L

H

M

L

Cross-sectional study using qualitative methods with interview guide with broad open-ended questions with probes [43]

L

L

L

H

L

Cross-sectional study using mixed methods with the Report Card on Healthy Food Environments and Nutrition for Children in Canada [41]

M

L

M

M

M

Cross-sectional quantitative survey using Iowa Food System Report Card [66]

M

L

N/A

H

N/A

Cross-sectional quantitative survey using tool developed based on the framework of Lester’s 1994 overview of the Australian food and nutrition system [57]

L

L

M

H

L

Cross-sectional quantitative survey using the Political Commitment and Opportunity Measurement-Rapid Assessment Tool [67]

L

M

M

H

M

Cross-sectional study using qualitative methods with the WHO framework to monitor and evaluate implementation of the Global Strategy on Diet, Physical Activity and Health [71]

M

L

N/A

H

N/A

Cross-sectional quantitative survey using the 55-item State Policy Index [77]

M

M

N/A

H

N/A

Cross-sectional study using qualitative methods with open-ended interview questions [70]

L

L

N/A

H

L

Cross-sectional qualitative methods using interview and focus group guides [68]

L

L

N/A

M

L

Cross-sectional study using qualitative methods with interview guide [72]

L

L

N/A

H

L

Cross-sectional study using qualitative methods with open-ended questions, small prompts, probes and follow-up questions [69]

L

L

H

M

L

Cross-sectional study using qualitative methods with discussion guide [74]

L

L

L

M

L

Cross-sectional study using qualitative methods with interview guide [75]

L

L

L

H

L

Cross-sectional study using qualitative methods with semi-structured questions [80]

M

L

M

H

M

Cross-sectional study using qualitative methods with standard recommended focus group protocols [76]

L

L

N/A

H

L

Cross-sectional study using qualitative methods with semi-structured questions [81]

L

L

L

H

L

Cross-sectional study using qualitative methods with semi-structured questions [79]

H

L

M

H

M

Cross-sectional study using mixed methods with questionnaire tool and semi-structured questions [73]

L

L

H

M

L

Cross-sectional study using qualitative methods with open-ended interview questions [78]

L

L

M

M

L