Critical Appraisal Guide for Studies of Therapy

This is a basic tool you can use to assess a study of therapy, and is based on the CONSORT statement


Are the results of the study valid?

• Was the assignment of patients to treatments randomised? Was the randomisation concealed?
• Were the groups similar at baseline?
• Was follow-up of patients sufficiently long and complete?
• Were all patients analysed in the groups to which they were randomised?
• Were patients and clinicians blinded?
• Were the groups treated equally, apart from the intervention

What are the results?

• Was the study powered to find a difference between the two groups?
• How large was the treatment effect?
• How precise was the estimate of treatment effect?

How Can I apply the results to my patient care?

• Can the results be applied to my patient population?
• Is the treatment feasible in my setting?
• Were all clinically important outcomes considered?
• Are the likely treatment benefits worth the potential harms and costs?
• Should this study change my current practice?

For more information on critical appraisal, see www.consort-statement.org