Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 14, 2026

Author Spotlight: Evaluating the Adjuvant Efficacy and Safety of Angong Niuhuang Pill in Viral Encephalitis Treatment
Published on: April 19, 2024
Critical appraisal (II): Application to scientific articles on therapeutic interventions, systematic reviews and
Álvaro Gimeno Díaz de Atauri1, María Salomé Albi Rodríguez1, Elena Pérez González2
1Servicio de Pediatría, Hospital Universitario 12 de Octubre, Madrid, Spain.
Abstract:
In this article, we discuss the methodology for the critical appraisal of clinical trials (CTs) and systematic reviews (SRs). Studies of either type, when well designed and executed, provide the best evidence for clinical decision-making. Clinical trials are the primary source of evidence for evaluating therapeutic interventions, and SRs analyze and synthesize research of a certain quality to answer a specific clinical question. To assess their validity, it is essential that they aim to answer a specific question in terms of population, intervention and outcomes and that the risk of bias is reduced as much as possible during their development, from design to publication. The article addresses the steps to take to assess whether a CE or SR meets the criteria for its results to be considered reliable (valid). Once their validity is confirmed, the magnitude and clinical relevance of the results must be assessed, in addition to their applicability to our patients in particular.
Related Concept Videos
Types of Biopharmaceutical Studies: Controlled and Non-Controlled Approaches
Non-controlled studies, commonly employed for initial exploration, lack a control group, rendering them susceptible to biases and external influences. In contrast,...
Clinical Trials
There are four phases in a clinical trial. A phase one...
Clinical Trials: Overview
Nursing Interventions II: Selecting and Classifying the Nursing Interventions
Lazarus's Cognitive Appraisal Theory
Primary Appraisal:...
Therapeutic Drug Monitoring: Affecting Factors
