Critical Appraisal is regarded as a “process of

evaluating a research article carefully and

systematically to determine the reliability, validity
and application in clinical practice.”
A research article is Reliable or Not
How do we know that the obtained data has good
quality and reliable?

How could we decide which study is more reliable

when we have data of two different conclusion on the
same topic?
Journal
Type of Research Article
 Original Research
 Review
 Case Report
 Indian Journal of Dental Research (IJDR)_ Table of Contents.html
Publisher
Peer reviewed and Indexed journal
Impact factor - BMC Oral Health _ About.html
Authors name and institutional attachment
Designation of the authors
Journal of Indian Association of Public Health Dentistry _
About us.html
Title

Does it Indicate the topic and focus of study?

Does it Indicate the research question?

Is Title is meaningful and complete ?

Does it Include the Important Variables of Study?

Is the Title Specific and Complete?

Does it give Information about Study Population / Study

Setting?
Abstract
Structured or Unstructured?
Contents of Abstract?
Does it Give gist of whole text?
Is the Information in the abstract matching with the
text?
Keywords Mentioned Below the Abstract?
IMRAD Format?
Structured Abstract
Unstructured Abstract
Introduction
Introduction
Is the Introduction Meaningful?
Approach in writing Introduction
Seminar
Specific
Problem Oriented
Is the article recently published (within 5 years) or is
it seminal (i.e. an earlier article but which has
strongly influenced later developments)?
Do the authors present a hypothesis and Need for the
study?
Materials and
Methods
Materials and Methods
Is it presented in Logical, Clear and Meaningful
Manner?
Sample size estimation Mentioned?
Inclusion and Exclusion Criteria of Study subjects?
Standardisation of survey instruments and Examiners
Calibration?
Statistical Procedures?
Materials and Methods
Is the study design valid for your question?
Are both inclusion and exclusion criteria described?
Is there an attempt to limit bias in the selection of
participant groups?
Are there methodological protocols (i.e. blinding)
used to limit other possible bias?
Do the research methods limit the influence of
confounding variables?
Are the outcome measures valid for the health
condition you are researching?
Results
Results
Are they Presented in logical and comprehensive
manner?
Important results presented in tables?
Are the Tables numbered and titled properly?
Is Foot notes mentioned below the tables?
Any Figures Mentioned ?
Permission for publishing Pictures from Patients
Obtained?
Results
Is there a table that describes the subjects’ demographics?
Are the baseline demographics between groups similar?
Are the subjects generalizable to your patient?
Are the statistical tests appropriate for the study design
and clinical question?
Are the results presented within the paper?
Are the results statistically significant and how large is the
difference between groups?
Is there evidence of significance fishing (i.e. changing
statistical tests to ensure significance)?
Discussion
Is the Discussion Meaningful?
Does it Highlight Important Findings of the study?
Limitations of the study mentioned?
Is there an element of imagination?
Does it Open Vistas for Future Research?
Discussion
Do the authors attempt to contextualise non-
significant data in an attempt to portray significance?
(e.g. talking about findings which had a trend towards
significance as if they were significant).
Do the authors acknowledge limitations in the
article?
Are there any conflicts of interests noted?
Discussion
Conclusion
Is it Meaningful?
Is it Supported by data collected and results drawn?
Is it Based on aim and objective of the study?
References
Total No of References
Number of References in last 5 years
Types of References
Harvard
Vancover
Vancover
Harvard