Table 2

Suggestions for future papers reporting on CHD policy models

A CHD modelling paper should explicitly report and discuss;

-Aims of the project

-Structure and methods of the model

-Data quality (data availability, how up to date, comprehensive, any gaps in certain population groups or interventions). Reasons for selecting or excluding specific data sources

-Methodological limitations

-The assumptions used to address these deficiencies

-Sensitivity analyses (one-way or preferably multi-way)

-Whether the validity of the model was checked (with real observational data or with other models)

-Replication of the model in different populations

-Model results and comparisons with other studies

-Social and economic policy implications of model outcomes

Suggestions for future research

Unal et al. BMC Public Health 2006 6:213   doi:10.1186/1471-2458-6-213