A Guide to Critical Appraisal of Health Research

These are some basic points to consider when evaluating a practice or treatment guideline:

• Does the guideline address a clear research question?
• Was there a comprehensive search for the evidence?
• Is there clear inclusion and exclusion criteria?
• Are the methods for arriving at the recommendations clearly documented?
• Do the recommendations consider health benefits, potential side effects, and possible risks?
• Do the guidelines apply to your patient?
• Are the key recommendations easy to identify?
• Is the guideline free of any potential conflicts of interest?
• How current is the guideline?

Heneghan, C., & Badenoch, Douglas. (2006). Evidence-based medicine toolkit (2nd ed.). Malden, Mass. ; Oxford: BMJ Books/Blackwell Pub.

  Ransohoff, Pignone, M., & Sox, H. C. (2013). How to Decide Whether a Clinical Practice Guideline Is Trustworthy. JAMA : the Journal of the American Medical Association, 309(2), 139–140. https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.2012.156703