Even if you never do any research of your own it is critically important that you can judge the quality of the papers you read. Every published study will have its own strengths and weaknesses. Critical appraisal is the process by which these are identified to establish whether the results are valid and their interpretation is reliable. Journal editors will subject submitted papers to a peer-review process by asking one or more referees to comment on the article.
In general, the process works well but the process can fail and poor-quality research can be published even in high-quality journals. Publication of a flawed paper can have serious consequences as patients may receive the wrong treatment from a change in practice, the original research team may continue to use unsound methodologies, and other research teams may adopt flawed practices in the belief that the methodology is robust because the paper has been published after peer-review. Hence, it is important for all practitioners to develop their own robust skills in critical appraisal.
There are many important features to consider when appraising a paper. These include the methods adopted, the potential biases in the study design, the data obtained and any statistical treatment applied, the interpretation of the results in relation to what is already known on the topic, and the conclusions. Generally, research papers can be classified into one of three types depending on their quality and reliability:
Relevant, well-thought-out, valid methods properly carried out with clearly presented results that address the research question.
Patently obvious errors at different levels. Unfortunately, such papers do get published but can be dismissed easily.
Relevant and interesting but poorly carried out or otherwise fundamentally flawed. Such papers may appear good but are invalid once subjected to a proper critical appraisal. These can be dangerous because decisions about treatments and the allocation of resources may be made on the basis of the results. There may also be ethical issues over treatments for future patients.
Hence, the publication of a paper does not guarantee the study and its conclusions are sound; you should make your own assessment. Research claims are only justified if the methods are reliable and valid.
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