checklist for journal club-Therapy articles

Rajavithi Emergency Medicine Literature series Therapy.Apr 2008 Checklist : how to criticize medical literature Treatment /Therapy. Nalinas K. Check list and step approach for literature about “Therapy” 1. Are the RESULTS valid ? = believability , reliability. a. Experimental group control group begin the study with a similar prognosis ? ı Were patients randomized? random ı Was randomization concealed? !""#$"""ı Were pts analyzed in the groups to which they were randomized? %&'()!*"'+ "ı Were pts in treatment and control groups similar with respect to known prognostic variables? )'+ ,-./ 00 b. Experimental group control group retain similar prognosis after the study started? - study ı Were pts aware of group allocation ? %&'(&"-) ı Were clinician aware of group allocation ? - ( '2+!, ) ı Were outcome assessors aware of group allocation ? $4&!54&ı Were f/u complete? %' 2. What are the results ? a. How large was the treatment effect? b. How precise was the estimate of treatment effect ? c. When authors do not report the confidence interval. 3. How can I apply the results to patient care? a. Pts in the study similar to pts in my practice ? "b. Were all clinical important outcomes considered? c. Benefit !"Harm and cost "? (Are the likely treatment benefits worth the potential Harm and costs?)