FAR EASTERN UNIVERSITY – DEPARTMENT OF MEDICAL TECHNOLOGY

Critical Appraisal
Objectives:
1. To learn the purpose of 2. To learn the steps in 3. To learn the use of checklist in
journal appraisal journal appraisal appraising a journal
I. Introduction
▪ What is Critical Appraisal?
1. A process of systematically examining a research journal (using a checklist) to judge its trustworthiness, and its
value and relevance in a particular subject
2. The purpose is to asses directness of the study to provide enough direct answers to your question in terms of
population (P), exposure (E) and outcome (O)?

II. Procedure

1. Determine the objective/s of the study

• The objective/s of the study should be clearly stated (E.g. Risk factor, Odds Ratio, Association, etc.)
• Where to look? Introduction and Abstract
2. Determine if hypothesis is accurate
• The possible outcomes of the study in relation to the research objectives. Where to look? Introduction
3. Determine if the study design is appropriate
• Is the study design appropriate to answer the objective? E.g. Determining the risk factors: case control
• Where to look? Introduction, Abstract, or Title
4. Determine if selection of the subjects is appropriate
• Did the subjects undergo the proper sampling technique (E.g. purposive, simple random, etc.) to avoid bias?
• Were the subject recruited (cases, cohort, etc.) representative of the population?
• Is the sample size adequate? Is there criteria identified for selecting the subjects?
• Where to look? Methodology (Sampling), Abstract, Results
5. Determine if Research Tools are Valid to obtain data
• Did the study use the right tools (methods, procedures) to obtain the data?
E.g. Survey forms for prevalence, chart reports for case reports, lab techniques for experimental
• Is there a need for the research assistants to be blinded?
• In Case-control or Cohort (were the exposure and/or outcomes measured accurately?)
Did they use objective measurements? Were the groups treated equally?
• Where to look? Methodology
6. Determine if Presentation of Results is correct
• Were all results clearly presented? Does each method/tool used in the study have results?
• Are the results valid and reliable? Was the outcome accurately measured?
• If case-control or Cohort? How large was the effect (odds ratio and relative risk)?
• Where to look? Results and Discussion: Tables
7. Determine if interpretation of data is correct
• Are statistical tests used appropriate to interpret the data? E.g. Odds Ratio, Risk Ratio, Chi-square, etc.
• Were the conclusions drawn based on the statistical interpretation?
• Do the results conform with recent related studies or other evidences available?
• Do you believe in the results? Base on Bradford Hills Criteria
• Where to look? Methodology, Results and Discussion, and Conclusion
8. Determine if Applicable
• Can the results be applied to the local population?
• What are the implications of this study for practice?
• Where to look? Results and Discussions, Recommendations

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 FAR EASTERN UNIVERSITY – DEPARTMENT OF MEDICAL TECHNOLOGY

Epidemiology

IV. Measure of Disease Frequency (Con’t)

no. of registered live births in a year

1. Crude Birth Rate = x 1000
midyear population
no. of registered deaths in a year
2. Crude Death Rate = x 1000
midyear population
no. of registered livebirths in a year
3. General Fertility Rate = x 1000
midyear population of women 15−44 years of age
no. of deaths related to pregancy, delivery, pueperium in a year
4. Maternal Mortality Rate = x 1000
number of live births in the same year
no. deaths under 28 days of age in a year
5. Neonatal Mortality Rate = x 1000
number of livebirths in the same year
no. deaths between 28 days to <1 year of age in a year
6. Post-Neonatal Mortality Rate = x 1000
number of livebirths in the same year
no. deaths under 1 year of age in a year
7. Infant Mortality Rate = x 1000
number of livebirths in the same year
no. deaths from a particular cause or population group in a year
8. Proportional Mortality Rate = x 1000
total deaths in a year
9. Cause of Death Rate
no. deaths from a particular cause in a year
(cause specific mortality rate) = x 100,000
midyear population
no. deaths among those 50 years and over
10. Swaroop’s Index = x 100
total number of deaths

no. deaths in a specified group in a year

11. Specific Mortality Rate = x 10000
midyear population of the specified group
no. deaths in a specific age group
12. Age-Specific Mortality Rate = x 100,000
midyear population of the specified age group

no. deaths from a specified cause

13. Case fatality Rate = x 100
number of cases of the same year
14. Birth Defect Rate
no. of children born with defects
(Congenital Malformation or Anomaly Rate) = x 10,000
number of livebirths
no. of living cases
15. Survival Rate = x 100
no.of cases of diease

16. Years of Potential Life lost = number of years that an individual was expected to live beyond his/her death

AARON JAN PALMARES, RMT, MSMST_11.21.19 Page 2