What did they do? (Methods) |
1. Were patients randomized? |
|
2. Was randomization concealed? |
|
3. Were patients analyzed in the groups to which they were
randomized? |
|
4. Were patients in the treatment and control groups similar
with respect to known prognostic factors? |
|
5. Were 5 important groups (patients, caregivers, collectors of
outcome data, adjudicators of outcome, data analysts) aware of group
allocation? |
|
6. Aside from the experimental intervention, were the groups
treated equally? |
|
7. Was follow-up complete? |
|
What was the answer? (Results) |
1. How large was the treatment effect? |
|
2. How precise was the estimate of the treatment effect?
|
|
What did they say about the answer?
(Conclusion) |
1. Do the results of the study support the author/s
conclusions? |
|
2. Does the conclusion reflect the discussion? |
|
3. Are there study limitations, and do these impact the
conclusions? |
|
4. Are potential discrepancies mentioned? |
|
What do I do with this information? |
1. Were the study patients similar to my patients? |
|
2. Were all patient important outcomes considered? |
|
3. Are the likely benefits worth the potential harms and costs?
|
|