Critical Appraisal is regarded as a “process of
evaluating a research article carefully and
systematically to determine the reliability, validity
and application in clinical practice.”
A research article is Reliable or Not
How do we know that the obtained data has good
quality and reliable?
How could we decide which study is more reliable
when we have data of two different conclusion on the
same topic?
Journal
Type of Research Article
Original Research
Review
Case Report
Indian Journal of Dental Research (IJDR)_ Table of Contents.html
Publisher
Peer reviewed and Indexed journal
Impact factor - BMC Oral Health _ About.html
Authors name and institutional attachment
Designation of the authors
Journal of Indian Association of Public Health Dentistry _
About us.html
Title
Does it Indicate the topic and focus of study?
Does it Indicate the research question?
Is Title is meaningful and complete ?
Does it Include the Important Variables of Study?
Is the Title Specific and Complete?
Does it give Information about Study Population / Study
Setting?
Abstract
Structured or Unstructured?
Contents of Abstract?
Does it Give gist of whole text?
Is the Information in the abstract matching with the
text?
Keywords Mentioned Below the Abstract?
IMRAD Format?
Structured Abstract
Unstructured Abstract
Introduction
Introduction
Is the Introduction Meaningful?
Approach in writing Introduction
Seminar
Specific
Problem Oriented
Is the article recently published (within 5 years) or is
it seminal (i.e. an earlier article but which has
strongly influenced later developments)?
Do the authors present a hypothesis and Need for the
study?
Materials and
Methods
Materials and Methods
Is it presented in Logical, Clear and Meaningful
Manner?
Sample size estimation Mentioned?
Inclusion and Exclusion Criteria of Study subjects?
Standardisation of survey instruments and Examiners
Calibration?
Statistical Procedures?
Materials and Methods
Is the study design valid for your question?
Are both inclusion and exclusion criteria described?
Is there an attempt to limit bias in the selection of
participant groups?
Are there methodological protocols (i.e. blinding)
used to limit other possible bias?
Do the research methods limit the influence of
confounding variables?
Are the outcome measures valid for the health
condition you are researching?
Results
Results
Are they Presented in logical and comprehensive
manner?
Important results presented in tables?
Are the Tables numbered and titled properly?
Is Foot notes mentioned below the tables?
Any Figures Mentioned ?
Permission for publishing Pictures from Patients
Obtained?
Results
Is there a table that describes the subjects’ demographics?
Are the baseline demographics between groups similar?
Are the subjects generalizable to your patient?
Are the statistical tests appropriate for the study design
and clinical question?
Are the results presented within the paper?
Are the results statistically significant and how large is the
difference between groups?
Is there evidence of significance fishing (i.e. changing
statistical tests to ensure significance)?
Discussion
Is the Discussion Meaningful?
Does it Highlight Important Findings of the study?
Limitations of the study mentioned?
Is there an element of imagination?
Does it Open Vistas for Future Research?
Discussion
Do the authors attempt to contextualise non-
significant data in an attempt to portray significance?
(e.g. talking about findings which had a trend towards
significance as if they were significant).
Do the authors acknowledge limitations in the
article?
Are there any conflicts of interests noted?
Discussion
Conclusion
Is it Meaningful?
Is it Supported by data collected and results drawn?
Is it Based on aim and objective of the study?
References
Total No of References
Number of References in last 5 years
Types of References
Harvard
Vancover
Vancover
Harvard
