Meta-Analysis and Evidence Assessment

Risk of bias will be assessed independently by two reviewers using design-specific Joanna Briggs Institute tools. Certainty of evidence will be assessed using GRADE adapted for prognostic and observational associations. Heterogeneity will be assessed with the chi-square test and quantified using I² and τ². Publication bias and small-study effects will be assessed with funnel plots and Egger’s regression test when a determinant has generally at least 10 studies in a meta-analysis. A random-effects meta-analysis is planned when at least three studies report comparable effect measures for the same determinant-outcome pair. Dichotomous delayed versus non-delayed care-seeking outcomes will preferably be pooled with odds ratios.