Figure 2. Search results by key question (Text Description)

A flow chart depicts the search results and article flow for this review. A box at the top of the chart reads:

• Abstracts reviewed (n = 1067)
• Searches: Systematic review, screening, early screening, screening tests, clinical trials, treatment harms: 1395
• 2003 USPSTF review: 212

An arrow drops down from this box to a box tabled “Total articles reviewed (n = 288).”

To the left of this box is another box labeled “Articles reviewed from outside sources (e.g., experts, reference lists) (n = 44).” This box is connected to the “total articles” box by an arrow pointing to the right.

Another right-pointing arrow proceeds to the right from the “total articles” box to a large box that lists the reasons for which articles were excluded, as follows:

Excluded:

1. Study design: 121
2. Not relevant to key question: 61
3. Did not report relevant outcome: 50
4. Did not use designated test or criteria: 21
5. Quality: 15
6. Prevalence outside United States: 3
7. Not generalizable to U.S. population: 1
8. Not a treatment included in review: 1
9. Article used as source document: 2

A vertical arrow points downward from the “total articles” box and forks into 5 downward-pointing arrows, each ending in a box that lists the number of articles included for each of the key questions, as follows:

• Articles included, key question 1 (n = 0)
• Articles included, key question 2 (n = 0)
• Articles included, key question 3
  • > 24 weeks' gestation (n = 8) (7 studies)
  • < 24 weeks' gestation (n = 1)
• Articles included, key question 4 (n = 3)
• Articles included, key question 5 (n = 7)^a

Note: USPSTF = U.S. Preventive Services Task Force.
^a  Six of these articles are also included in the results from key question 3.

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