Critical Appraisal
Use this guide to find information resources about critical appraisal including checklists, books and journal articles.
Key Resources
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Worksheets for appraising systematic reviews, diagnostics, prognostics and RCTs.
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A free online 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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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

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Chapter 5 covers critical appraisal of the literature.
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Chapers 6-8 cover critical appraisal of quantitative and qualitative research.
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Chapter 7 covers assessing the evidence base.
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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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Chapter 2 covers critical thinking and chapter 4 covers finding and critiquing literature.
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Chapter 6 covers critically appraising the literature.
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Chapter 8 covers critical appraisal of the evidence.
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Chapter 18 covers critical appraisal of nursing studies.
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Chapter 18 covers critical appraisal of nursing studies.
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Chapter 7 covers appraising qualitative research and chapter 18 covers appraising quantitative methods.
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Chapter 15 covers weighing the evidence.
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Book subject search
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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Journals


Julie Key
Editor of this guide
RCN Library and Archive Service
Upcoming events relating to this subject guide
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30 May 2022 Online
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Page last updated - 10/01/2022