Critical Appraisal
Use this guide to find information resources about critical appraisal including checklists, books and journal articles.
Key Resources
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This online resource explains the sections commonly used in research articles. Understanding how research articles are organised can make reading and evaluating them easier
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Worksheets for appraising systematic reviews, diagnostics, prognostics and RCTs.
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A free online resource for both healthcare staff and patients; four modules of 30–45 minutes provide an introduction to evidence based medicine, clinical trials and Cochrane Evidence.
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This tool will guide you through a series of questions to help you to review and interpret a published health research paper.
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The PRISMA flow diagram depicts the flow of information through the different phases of a literature review. It maps out the number of records identified, included and excluded, and the reasons for exclusions.
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A useful resource for methods and evidence in applied social science.
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A comprehensive database of reporting guidelines. Covers all the main study types.
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A tool to assess the methodological quality of systematic reviews.
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Books
![Book cover](https://www.rcn.org.uk/library/-/media/Royal-College-Of-Nursing/Images/Books-140x200/Critical-appraisal/Aveyard-How-to-read-and-critique.jpg?h=199&w=140&la=en&hash=09245B7F46DF15A8695BB67B2FA74D55)
![Book cover](https://www.rcn.org.uk/library/-/media/Royal-College-Of-Nursing/Images/Books-140x200/Using-and-doing-research/Aveyard-lit-review.png?h=200&w=140&la=en&hash=296BDC75FFA4929FA6FFBA1D0D3A923C)
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Chapter 5 covers critical appraisal of the literature.
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![book cover](https://www.rcn.org.uk/library/-/media/Royal-College-Of-Nursing/Images/Books-140x200/Critical-appraisal/Booth-systematic-approaches.jpg?h=199&w=140&la=en&hash=6A89AC510F8C791975B02A933A03106B)
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Chapter 6 covers assessing the evidence base.
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![Book cover](https://www.rcn.org.uk/library/-/media/Royal-College-Of-Nursing/Images/Books-140x200/Critical-appraisal/Bootland-Critical-appraisal.jpg?h=200&w=140&la=en&hash=35A23D5A2F87AAA1027267553AABA042)
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Section 1 covers an introduction to critical appraisal. Section 3 covers appraising difference types of papers including qualitative papers and observational studies.
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![Book cover](https://www.rcn.org.uk/library/-/media/Royal-College-Of-Nursing/Images/Books-140x200/Critical-appraisal/Coughlan-doing-a-literature-review-3rd.jpg?h=201&w=140&la=en&hash=6328F2F20440B97EADB79C0B37AFB2B1)
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Chapter 6 covers critically appraising the literature.
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![Book cover](https://www.rcn.org.uk/library/-/media/Royal-College-Of-Nursing/Images/Books-140x200/Critical-appraisal/Elwood-Critical-appraisal.jpg?h=210&w=140&la=en&hash=AE76AFA235982C2DFA110655DD4EE4FC)
![Book cover](https://www.rcn.org.uk/library/-/media/Royal-College-Of-Nursing/Images/Books-140x200/Using-and-doing-research/Gerrish.png?h=200&w=140&la=en&hash=1C588CDDB5DEFD94601CAC25C9BA97A4)
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Chapter 8 covers critical appraisal of the evidence.
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![Book cover](https://www.rcn.org.uk/library/-/media/Royal-College-Of-Nursing/Images/Books-140x200/Using-and-doing-research/Greenhalgh-How.jpg?h=216&w=140&la=en&hash=01912CC506131128F51C848200FBA803)
![Book cover](https://www.rcn.org.uk/library/-/media/Royal-College-Of-Nursing/Images/Books-140x200/Critical-appraisal/Gray-Burns-and-Grove.jpg?h=171&w=140&la=en&hash=FFCAAFCEE66176E74A7BA24EF5497FB0)
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Chapter 18 covers critical appraisal of nursing studies.
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![Book cover](https://www.rcn.org.uk/library/-/media/Royal-College-Of-Nursing/Images/Books-140x200/Using-and-doing-research/Linsley.png?h=200&w=140&la=en&hash=6B872357F1AED12E07F19BEFF4067B9D)
![Book cover](https://www.rcn.org.uk/library/-/media/Royal-College-Of-Nursing/Images/Books-140x200/Critical-appraisal/Lobiondo-Wood-Nursing-research.jpg?h=173&w=140&la=en&hash=B1ACB043A19C306318E5FED1831F47B7)
![Book cover](https://www.rcn.org.uk/library/-/media/Royal-College-Of-Nursing/Images/Books-140x200/Critical-appraisal/Schmidt.jpg?h=179&w=140&la=en&hash=9CD13D4E4784E9D299E47D8B67031497)
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Journal articles
Shea BJ and others (2017) AMSTAR 2: a critical appraisal tool for systematic reviews that include randomised or non-randomised studies of healthcare interventions or both, British Medical Journal, 358.
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An outline of AMSTAR 2 and its use for as a critical appraisal tool for systematic reviews.
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Amy Tank
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Page last updated - 08/02/2024