Template for Critical Appraisal

Name:
Title Topic:
PICO Question: (Formulate a clinical question regarding medical mycology that you wish to search)

Introduction

1. Does the article attempt to answer the same question as your clinical question?

2. Do the authors present a hypothesis?

3. Was the purpose of the study conveyed plainly and rationally?

Methods

4. Is the study design valid for your question?

5. Are both inclusion and exclusion criteria described?

6. Is there an attempt to limit bias in the selection of participant groups?

7. Are there methodological protocols (i.e. blinding) used to limit other possible bias?

Results

8. Is there a table that describes the subjects’ demographics?

9. Are the baseline demographics between groups similar?

10. Are the results presented within the paper?

11. Are the results statistically significant and how large is the difference between groups?

Discussion/Conclusion

12. Do the authors’ conclusions match the data, analysis and statistical significance?

13. Do the authors acknowledge limitations in the article?

Note: Please do not answer the questions with just a yes or no. Include a short explanation (≤5
sentences) or lift a content (table, graph, or sentences) from your journal that answers the questions.