Methodological quality checklist for studies based on observational methodology (MQCOM)

espanolAntecedentes: no existen instrumentos referidos a los items minimos que garanticen la calidad metodologica en estudios basados en metodologia observacional. En consecuencia, los profesionales no expertos en metodologia observacional no disponen de una guia basica que oriente su practica en este tipo de estudios. Se desarrollo una escala para medir los items minimos de calidad metodologica que deben considerar los estudios basados en metodologia observacional aportando evidencias de su validez basada en el contenido de la prueba y fiabilidad intercodificadores. Metodo: cincuenta y cuatro jueces con al menos un ano de experiencia en metodologia observacional y su aplicacion evaluaron los items del checklist elaborado respecto a su relevancia, utilidad y viabilidad. Se seleccionaron aquellos items que obtuvieron al menos ,5 en los indices de Osterlind en los tres aspectos evaluados. Dos codificadores los aplicaron a una seleccion aleatoria de articulos que utilizaron metodologia observacional en futbol y se estudio la fiabilidad intercodificadores mediante coeficientes kappa (k) de Cohen. Resultados: la escala resultante consto de 16 items agrupados en 11 criterios/dimensiones, con coeficientes de fiabilidad adecuados. Conclusiones: se desarrollo un instrumento util dirigido a profesionales no expertos para potenciar la calidad metodologica de estudios basados en metodologia observacional. EnglishBackground: No existing instrument addresses the minimum number of items that guarantee methodological quality in studies based on observational methodology. Consequently, professionals who are not experts in observational methodology do not have a basic framework to guide their practice in this type of study. This study developed a checklist to measure the minimum number of items for methodological quality that studies based on observational methodology should consider and provided evidence of their validity based on test content and intercoder reliability. Method: Fifty-four judges with at least 1 year of experience in observational methodology and research based on this methodology evaluated the items of the developed checklist in terms of relevance, usefulness, and feasibility. Items were selected if they obtained at least .5 in the Osterlind indexes of the three aspects evaluated. Two coders applied the selected items to a random selection of articles that used observational methodology to investigate soccer, and intercoder reliability was examined using Cohen’s kappa (k) coefficients. Results: The final checklist included 16 items grouped into 11 criteria/dimensions, with adequate reliability coefficients. Conclusions: This study developed a useful instrument for non-expert professionals to enhance the methodological quality of studies based on observational methodology