Why critically appraise?
- Supports sound decision making based on best available evidence
- Helps to determine:
- How rigorous a piece of research is/ are the results of the study valid
- What the results are telling us
- How relevant it is to patient
How to critically appraise or what to look for.
When critically appraising evidence the following are the key areas to look at:
- Introduction:
Is the information provided in the introduction logical and knowledgeable?
- Aim/research question
Is the research question of the study clearly stated?
- Methods
Is the research methodology and research methods fully described?
- Analysis
Has the appropriate statistics being used in the analysis of the research findings?
Have all the subjects in the study being accounted for?
- Conclusions
Are the conclusions provided well justified and valid?
Is the Cost/benefits discussed?
How do I critically appraise? RAMMbo
The acronym RAMMbo (Represent, Allocation/Adjustment, Maintain, Measured, Blind or objective) is used to guide the critical appraisal process to ask the key questions about potential bias in a study.
1. Recruitment
- Who did the subjects represent?
2. Allocation
- Was the assignment to treatments randomised?
- Were the groups similar at the trial’s start?
3. Maintenance
- Were the groups treated equally?
- Were outcomes ascertained & analysed for most patients?
4. Measurements
- Were patients and clinicians “blinded” to treatment? OR
- Were measurements objective & standardised?
