Critical Appraisal Course

Learning Objectives

1. To understand the role of critical appraisal in evidence-based medicine
2. To acquire the core of critical appraisal skills to interpret all aspects of clinical studies for trustworthiness and relevance
3. To apply critical appraisal skills to support clinical and policy decision-making.

At the end of the course, participants should be able to critically appraise clinical research papers with confidence.

Reading List

• Module 2 – Aggarwal R, Charles-Schoeman C, Schessl J, etc. Trial of Intravenous Immune Globulin in Dermatomyositis. N Eng J Med. 2022 Oct 6; 387 (14):1264-1278
• Module 3: Cohort Study – Frisell T, Bower H, Morin M, etc. Safety of biological and targeted synthetic diseases-modifying antirheumatic drugs for rheumatoid arthritis as used in clinical practice: results from the ARTIS programme. Ann Rheum Dis 2023;0:1-10. doi:10.1136/ard-2022-223762
• Module 4: Klose-Jensen R, Therkildsen J, Blavnsfeldt AG, etc. Diagnostic accuracy of high-resolution peripheral quantitative computed tomography and X-ray for classifying erosive rheumatoid arthritis. Rheumatology (Oxford).2022;61(3):963-973.
• Module 5: Luqmani R, Lee Ellen, Singh S, et al. The Role of Ultrasound Compared to Biopsy of Temporal Arteries in the Diagnosis and Treatment of Giant Cell Arteritis (TABUL): a diagnostic accuracy and cost-effectiveness study. Health Technol Assess. 2016 Nov;20(90):1-238. doi: 10.3310/hta20900.
• Module 6
  van de Laar CJ, Oude Vos MAH, Vonkeman HE, et al. Cost-effectiveness of different treat-to-target strategies in rheumatoid arthritis: results from the DREAM registry. BMC Rheumatol.2019 Apr 29;3:16. doi:10.1186/s41927-019-0064-9. eCollection2019.
• Module 7
  Pang L, Xu Y, Li T, et al. Platelet-Rich Plasma Injection Can Be a Viable Alternative to Corticosteroid Injection for Conservative Treatment of Rotator Cuff Disease: A Meta-analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials. Arthroscopy.2023 Feb;39(2):402-421.e1. doi:10.1016/j.arthro.2022.06.022.
• Module 8
  Fraenkel L, Bathon JM, England BR, et at. 2021 American College of Rheumatology Guideline for the Treatment of Rheumatoid Arthritis. Arthritis Care Res (Hoboken).2021 Jul;73(7):924-939. doi:10.1002/acr.24596. Epub 2021 Jun 8.

View Recordings

Module 1 – Introduction and Overview
Date: 25 March 2023
Click here for the recording of the session

Module 2 – Randomised Controled Trials
Date: 1 April 2023
Click here for the recording of the session

Module 3 – Cohort Studies
Date: 15 April 2023
Click here for the recording of the session

Module 4 – Case-Control Studies
Date: 22 April 2023
Click here for the recording of the session

Module 5 – Diagnostic Studies
Date: 29 April 2023
Click here for the recording of the session

Module 6 – Economic Studies
Date: 6 May 2023
Click here for the recording of the session

Module 7 – Systematic Reviews
Date: 13 May 2023
Click here for the recording of the session

Module 8 – Guidelines
Date: 20 May 2023
Click here for the recording of the session