Evidence-based Medicine Toolkit

Appraising therapy articlesIs the studyvalid?1 Was there a clearly defined researchquestion?2 Was the assignment of patients to treatmentsrandomized and was the randomizationlist concealed?3 Were all patients accounted for at its conclusion?Was there an ‘intention-to-treat’analysis?4 Were research participants ‘blind’?5 Were the groups treated equally throughout?6 Did randomization produce comparablegroups at the start of the trial?Are the resultsimportant?What is the benefit of the treatment?RR = EER/CERRRR = (EER – CER) / CERARR = EER – CERNNT = 1 / ARRWhat are the confidence intervals?Can the resultshelp you?How much of the benefit would you expectto see for your patient?NNT =1((PEER × RR) – PEER)See p. 74.50