A brief introduction to the critical reading of the clinical literature

Paul G. Shekelle, Gunnar Andersson, Claire Bombardier, Daniel Cherkin, Richard Deyo, Robert Keller, Casey Lee, Matthew Liang, Bailey Lipscomb, Kevin Spratt, James Weinstein

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

47 Scopus citations

Abstract

Clinicians are bombarded by reports of new diagnostic tests or treatments for patients with spine problems. To provide the best possible patient care, clinicians need to be able to critically appraise the results of such studies for validity and relevance to patient care, important questions to be asked ofany descripllon of diagnostic or treatment studies are the following questions: 1) Are the patient described in detail so that you can decide whether they are comparable to those that you see in your practice? 2)Are the treatments or assessments described well enough so that you could provide the same for your patients? 3) Was a clinically relevant endpoint measured? 4) Is an appropriate comparison group? 5)Are potential sources of bias appropriately attended to? 6) Arc the- results clinically significant?.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)2028-2031
Number of pages4
JournalSpine
Volume19
Issue number18
StatePublished - Sep 1994
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Clinical epidemiology
  • Literature appraisal shills

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Orthopedics and Sports Medicine
  • Clinical Neurology

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