The Basics of Evaluating Articles
Critical Appraisal of Research Articles To practice Evidence Based Nursing effectively you should be able to evaluate research studies, examining their validity, relevance, and applicability. In doing this you will be able to determine if the research is applicable to your question so that you can make informed decisions about patient care. Questions you may ask about a study may include: Did the study address a clearly focused issue? Was the assignment of subjects to treatments randomised?; Can the results be applied to your work?; etc.
Below are a selected list of resources, categorized by study type, to help guide you in the Critical Appraisal process.
| Quantitative Studies |
Therapy/Intervention
Evaluation of studies of treatment or prevention interventions - Cullum N. (2000). EBN users' guide. Evaluation of studies of treatment or prevention interventions. Evidence-Based Nursing, 3(4), 100-2.
Evaluation of studies of treatment or prevention interventions. Part 2: applying the results of studies to your patients - Cullum N. (2001). EBN users' guide. Evaluation of studies of treatment or prevention interventions. Part 2: applying the results of studies to your patients. Evidence-Based Nursing, 4(1), 7-8.
How to Use an Article About Therapy or Prevention - Centre for Health Evidence, University of Alberta.
Therapy Scenario - Evidence Based Nursing, Centre for Evidence Based Medicine, University Health Network, Toronto
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Harm/Causation
Evaluation of studies of causation (aetiology) - Adamson, J. (2004). EBN users' guide. Evaluation of studies of causation (aetiology). Evidence Based Nursing, 7(2), 36-40.
Evaluation of studies of treatment harm - Marks S. Ciliska D. Jull A. (2006). EBN users' guide. Evaluation of studies of treatment harm. Evidence-Based Nursing, 9(4), 100-4.
How to Use an Article about Harm - Centre for Health Evidence, University of Alberta.
Harm Scenario - Evidence Based Nursing, Centre for Evidence Based Medicine, University Health Network, Toronto |
Systematic Reviews/Meta-analyses
Appraising Systematic Reviews - Joanna Briggs Institute, Australia
Evaluation of systematic reviews of treatment or prevention interventions - Ciliska D. Cullum N. Marks S. (2001). EBN users' guide. Evaluation of systematic reviews of treatment or prevention interventions. Evidence-Based Nursing, 4(4), 100-4.
How to read a paper: Papers that summarize other papers (systematic reviews and meta-analyses) - BMJ
Systematic Review Scenario - Evidence Based Nursing, Centre for Evidence Based Medicine, University Health Network, Toronto
TIPS and TRICKS: Critical Appraisal of Systematic Reviews -
O'Mathúna, D. (2010). Tips and tricks: Critical appraisal of aystematic reviews. International Journal of Nursing Practice, 16(4), 414–418
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| Qualitative Studies |
Appraisal of Qualitative Studies - University of Sheffield
Evaluation of qualitative research studies - Russell CK. Gregory DM. (2003). EBN users' guide. Evaluation of qualitative research studies. Evidence-Based Nursing, 6(2), 36-40.
Qualitative Research Scenario - Evidence Based Nursing, Centre for Evidence Based Medicine, University Health Network, Toronto
How to read a paper: Papers that go beyond numbers (qualitative research) - BMJ |
| Clinical Practice Guidelines |
Evaluation and adaptation of clinical practice guidelines - Graham ID. Harrison MB. (2005). EBN users' guide. Evaluation and adaptation of clinical practice guidelines. Evidence-Based Nursing, 8(3), 68-72.
What makes a good Clinical Guideline? - Evidence Based Medicine, University of Oxford
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| Evidence Based Literature Statistics |
How to read, interpret, and understand evidence-based literature statistics - Welk, DS. (2007). How to read, interpret, and understand evidence-based literature statistics. Nurse Educator,32(1), 16-20
How to read a paper - A collection of articles published in BMJ since 1999 that are descriptions or examples of various types of statistics and research methods. In this collection you will find descriptions and examples of Bayesian statistics, Qualitative Research, Randomized Controlled Trials, Systematic Reviews (incl meta-analyses), and other Statistics and Research Methods.
Statistics at Square One - This online BMJ publication includes the following chapters: 1. Data display and summary; 2. Mean and standard deviation; 3. Populations and samples; 4. Statements of probability and confidence intervals; 5. Differences between means: type I and type II errors and power; 6. Differences between percentages |
| Other Useful Websites |
Appraising the Evidence - Centre for Evidence Based Medicine, University Health Network, Toronto
Critical Appraisal - Centre for Evidence Based Medicine, Oxford University
Cricitcal Appraisal - Notes & Checklists - Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network
What is Critical Appraisal - Hayward Medical Communications (www.evidence-based-medicine.co.uk) |
| Books in the Bata Library |
Evaluating research for evidence-based nursing practice
Evidence-based nursing : a guide to clinical practice RT 42 .E925 2005
Evidence-based clinical practice in nursing and health care : assimilating research, experience and expertise RT 42 .P412 2007
How to read a paper : the basics of evidence based medicine R 118.6 .G75 2001
Introduction to nursing research : incorporating evidence-based practice RT 81.5 .I5844 2007
Nursing research in Canada : methods and critical appraisal for evidence-based practice RT 81.5 .N8724 2009
Reading research : a user-friendly guide for nurses and other health professionals RT 81.5 .D255 2003
Reading, understanding, and applying nursing research
Reviewing research evidence for nursing practice : systematic reviews RT 81.5 .R488 2007
Studying a study and testing a test : how to read the medical evidence R 118.6 .R54 2005
Users' guides to the medical literature : essentials of evidence-based clinical practice RA 427 .U847 2008
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