Apprasing SRs

Question 1

What are the main sections in an appraisal? (3)

Answer 1

A. Methods used were valid
B. What were the results of the review?
C. Relevancy of results

Question 2

What does section A include? (#1-2)

Answer 2

1. Clearly focused question (PICO) and defined eligibility criteria?
2. Included high quality, relevant studies? (relevant Qs, more than 1 assessor selected)

Question 3

What does section A include? (#3)

Answer 3

3. Unlikely that the review missed important, relevant studies
   - search strategy all synonyms and reproducible
   - databases etc

Question 4

What does section A include? (#4)

Answer 4

4. Assessed risk of bias (incorporated into review findings)
   - method reproducible and adequate
   - more than 1 assessor

Question 5

What does section B include? (2)

Answer 5

1. What are the overall results?

2. How precise are the results?

Question 6

What does section C include? (2)

Answer 6

Relevancy

1. Important outcomes considered (POV pts/family/policy makers/healthcare pros…)
2. Can the results be applied (pt/practice setting)

Question 7

What does section A include? (#5)

Answer 7

5. Did they combine results from studies (was it reasonable to do so?)
   - similar results study to study
   - reasons for result variation discussed