G. Biondi Zoccai – Ricerca in cardiologia

What to expect?

Core modules

• IntroductionIntroduction

• Finding out relevant literatureFinding out relevant literature

• General guidelines for literature appraisalGeneral guidelines for literature appraisal

• Abstract and Introduction appraisalAbstract and Introduction appraisal

• Methods and Results appraisal 1Methods and Results appraisal 1 - - Patients and proceduresPatients and procedures

• Methods and Results appraisal 2Methods and Results appraisal 2 - - Data collection/management and Data collection/management and

descriptive analysisdescriptive analysis

• Methods and Results appraisal 3Methods and Results appraisal 3 - - Inferential analysisInferential analysis

• Discussion and Conclusions appraisalDiscussion and Conclusions appraisal

G. Biondi Zoccai – Ricerca in cardiologia

Abstract appraisalAbstract appraisal

The abstract is the most read (and thus probablyThe abstract is the most read (and thus probably

important) part of an article!important) part of an article!

While reading an abstract seems an easy task, someWhile reading an abstract seems an easy task, some

points should be borne in mind:points should be borne in mind:

• Are background, study hypothesis/aim, setting, patients, procedures, Are background, study hypothesis/aim, setting, patients, procedures,

outcomes, results, limitations and implications provided?outcomes, results, limitations and implications provided?

• Is the abstract coherent in itself and to attached tables and text?Is the abstract coherent in itself and to attached tables and text?

• Are precise statistical data provided? These include raw numbers, Are precise statistical data provided? These include raw numbers,

percentages, summary point estimates, confidence intervals and p percentages, summary point estimates, confidence intervals and p

valuesvalues

Remember, the only question that an abstract you are reading Remember, the only question that an abstract you are reading

should address is: is this paper worth of reading in full text?should address is: is this paper worth of reading in full text?

G. Biondi Zoccai – Ricerca in cardiologia

Ardissino JAMA 2004

Abstract appraisalAbstract appraisal

G. Biondi Zoccai – Ricerca in cardiologia

Abstract appraisalAbstract appraisal

The abstract is the most read (and thus probablyThe abstract is the most read (and thus probably

important) part of an article!important) part of an article!

While reading an abstract seems an easy task, someWhile reading an abstract seems an easy task, some

points should be borne in mind:points should be borne in mind:

• Are background, study hypothesis/aim, setting, patients, procedures, Are background, study hypothesis/aim, setting, patients, procedures,

outcomes, results, limitations and implications provided?outcomes, results, limitations and implications provided?

• Is the abstract coherent in itself and to attached tables and text?Is the abstract coherent in itself and to attached tables and text?

• Are precise statistical data provided? These include raw numbers, Are precise statistical data provided? These include raw numbers,

percentages, summary point estimates, confidence intervals and p percentages, summary point estimates, confidence intervals and p

valuesvalues

Remember, the only question that an abstract you are reading Remember, the only question that an abstract you are reading

should address is: is this paper worth of reading in full text?should address is: is this paper worth of reading in full text?

G. Biondi Zoccai – Ricerca in cardiologia

Ardissino JAMA 2004

Abstract appraisalAbstract appraisal

G. Biondi Zoccai – Ricerca in cardiologia

Abstract appraisalAbstract appraisal

The abstract is the most read (and thus probablyThe abstract is the most read (and thus probably

important) part of an article!important) part of an article!

While reading an abstract seems an easy task, someWhile reading an abstract seems an easy task, some

points should be borne in mind:points should be borne in mind:

• Are background, study hypothesis/aim, setting, patients, procedures, Are background, study hypothesis/aim, setting, patients, procedures,

outcomes, results, limitations and implications provided?outcomes, results, limitations and implications provided?

• Is the abstract coherent in itself and to attached tables and text?Is the abstract coherent in itself and to attached tables and text?

• Are precise statistical data provided? These include raw numbers, Are precise statistical data provided? These include raw numbers,

percentages, summary point estimates, confidence intervals and p percentages, summary point estimates, confidence intervals and p

valuesvalues

Remember, the only question that an abstract you are reading Remember, the only question that an abstract you are reading

should address is: is this paper worth of reading in full text?should address is: is this paper worth of reading in full text?

G. Biondi Zoccai – Ricerca in cardiologia

Abstract appraisalAbstract appraisal

The abstract is the most read (and thus probablyThe abstract is the most read (and thus probably

important) part of an article!important) part of an article!

While reading an abstract seems an easy task, someWhile reading an abstract seems an easy task, some

points should be borne in mind:points should be borne in mind:

• Are background, study hypothesis/aim, setting, patients, procedures, Are background, study hypothesis/aim, setting, patients, procedures,

outcomes, results, limitations and implications provided?outcomes, results, limitations and implications provided?

• Is the abstract coherent in itself and to attached tables and text?Is the abstract coherent in itself and to attached tables and text?

• Are precise statistical data provided? These include raw numbers, Are precise statistical data provided? These include raw numbers,

percentages, summary point estimates, confidence intervals and p percentages, summary point estimates, confidence intervals and p

valuesvalues

Remember, the only question that an abstract you are reading Remember, the only question that an abstract you are reading

should address is: is this paper worth of reading in full text?should address is: is this paper worth of reading in full text?

G. Biondi Zoccai – Ricerca in cardiologia

Ardissino JAMA 2004

Abstract appraisalAbstract appraisal

G. Biondi Zoccai – Ricerca in cardiologia

Introduction appraisalIntroduction appraisal

The introduction is an important part of an article, yet The introduction is an important part of an article, yet

you should not expect or demand too much you should not expect or demand too much

sophistication from the authors…sophistication from the authors…

While thus the introduction should be read, only a few key While thus the introduction should be read, only a few key

points should be looked for and read carefully:points should be looked for and read carefully:

• Are the disease, population, and interventions under interest put into Are the disease, population, and interventions under interest put into

context briefly but precisely?context briefly but precisely?

• Are drawbacks of current approaches emphasized in order to provide a Are drawbacks of current approaches emphasized in order to provide a

rationale for the study?rationale for the study?

• Is the study hypothesis clearly stated? This hopefully also clarifies Is the study hypothesis clearly stated? This hopefully also clarifies

whether the study is prospective or retrospective!whether the study is prospective or retrospective!

G. Biondi Zoccai – Ricerca in cardiologia

Introduction appraisalIntroduction appraisal

The introduction is an important part of an article, yet The introduction is an important part of an article, yet

you should not expect or demand too much you should not expect or demand too much

sophistication from the authors…sophistication from the authors…

While thus the introduction should be read, only a few key While thus the introduction should be read, only a few key

points should be looked for and read carefully:points should be looked for and read carefully:

• Are the disease, population, and interventions under interest put into Are the disease, population, and interventions under interest put into

context briefly but precisely?context briefly but precisely?

• Are drawbacks of current approaches emphasized in order to provide a Are drawbacks of current approaches emphasized in order to provide a

rationale for the study?rationale for the study?

• Is the study hypothesis clearly stated? This hopefully also clarifies Is the study hypothesis clearly stated? This hopefully also clarifies

whether the study is prospective or retrospective!whether the study is prospective or retrospective!

G. Biondi Zoccai – Ricerca in cardiologia

Introduction appraisalIntroduction appraisal

Ardissino JAMA 2004

G. Biondi Zoccai – Ricerca in cardiologia

Introduction appraisalIntroduction appraisal

The introduction is an important part of an article, yet The introduction is an important part of an article, yet

you should not expect or demand too much you should not expect or demand too much

sophistication from the authors…sophistication from the authors…

While thus the introduction should be read, only a few key While thus the introduction should be read, only a few key

points should be looked for and read carefully:points should be looked for and read carefully:

• Are the disease, population, and interventions under interest put into Are the disease, population, and interventions under interest put into

context briefly but precisely?context briefly but precisely?

• Are drawbacks of current approaches emphasized in order to provide a Are drawbacks of current approaches emphasized in order to provide a

rationale for the study?rationale for the study?

• Is the study hypothesis clearly stated? This hopefully also clarifies Is the study hypothesis clearly stated? This hopefully also clarifies

whether the study is prospective or retrospective!whether the study is prospective or retrospective!

G. Biondi Zoccai – Ricerca in cardiologia

Introduction appraisalIntroduction appraisal

Ardissino JAMA 2004

G. Biondi Zoccai – Ricerca in cardiologia

Introduction appraisalIntroduction appraisal

The introduction is an important part of an article, yet The introduction is an important part of an article, yet

you should not expect or demand too much you should not expect or demand too much

sophistication from the authors…sophistication from the authors…

While thus the introduction should be read, only a few key While thus the introduction should be read, only a few key

points should be looked for and read carefully:points should be looked for and read carefully:

• Are the disease, population, and interventions under interest put into Are the disease, population, and interventions under interest put into

context briefly but precisely?context briefly but precisely?

• Are drawbacks of current approaches emphasized in order to provide a Are drawbacks of current approaches emphasized in order to provide a

rationale for the study?rationale for the study?

• Is the study hypothesis clearly stated? This hopefully also clarifies Is the study hypothesis clearly stated? This hopefully also clarifies

whether the study is prospective or retrospective!whether the study is prospective or retrospective!

G. Biondi Zoccai – Ricerca in cardiologia

Introduction appraisalIntroduction appraisal

Ardissino JAMA 2004

G. Biondi Zoccai – Ricerca in cardiologia

Teaching pointTeaching point

The more structered the abstract/introduction, the more readable and informative!The more structered the abstract/introduction, the more readable and informative!

G. Biondi Zoccai – Ricerca in cardiologia

Teaching pointTeaching point