Reapply the RoB 2 assessment to the correct result, document the reassessment, and update any downstream certainty rating that used the original judgement. RoB 2 assesses a specific randomized-trial result across bias domains using signalling questions and written justifications, producing low risk, some concerns, or high risk judgements. Because the judgement is tied to one result, an assessment carried over from a different outcome or timepoint does not describe the result you are reporting.
- Confirm the mismatch. Compare the outcome and timepoint named in the RoB 2 assessment with the prespecified outcome and timepoint in your protocol. Record both in the reassessment note so the correction is traceable.
- Reapply RoB 2 to the correct result. Work through the signalling questions for that result and write a justification for each domain judgement. Assign low risk, some concerns, or high risk for the correct outcome and timepoint.
- Document the change. Note the original judgement, the corrected judgement, the reason for the correction, and who made it. Keep the superseded assessment visible so reviewers can follow the revision.
- Update downstream ratings. Where a GRADE certainty rating or summary judgement drew on the original RoB 2 result, revise it to reflect the corrected assessment. GRADE rates certainty at the outcome level using explicit criteria, so a change in one outcome's risk of bias can change that outcome's rating.
A useful check is to confirm that every RoB 2 judgement in your manuscript names the same outcome and timepoint as the result it accompanies. When the corrected judgement differs from the original, state the change in the methods or a footnote so readers can see which assessment applies.