CRITICAL

APPRAISAL
COURSE
25 March 2023 to 20 May 2023
Saturday, 16:00 – 17:30 (UTC+8)
Organizer: APLAR Young Rheumatologists (AYR)
APLAR Academy
Learning Objectives
◦ To understand the role of critical appraisal in evidence-based medicine
◦ To acquire the core of critical appraisal skills to interpret all aspects of clinical studies for trustworthiness,
results and relevance
◦ To apply critical appraisal skills to support clinical and policy decision-making

At the end of the course, participants should be able to critically appraise clinical research papers with
confidence.
Target audience
◦ APLAR Young Rheumatologists (AYR) who want to acquire critical appraisal knowledge and skills
◦ All rheumatologists in APLAR are welcome to attend
Course Syllabus
◦ In each module, the faculty will focus on one study type and introduce the critical appraisal skills to read and
understand the study
◦ From module 2 to module 8, one selected AYR (per module) will be given some pre-course training
materials for preparation. They will undergo training in critical appraisal skills under the guidance of an
expert faculty in the module.
◦ The total time for each module is 90 minutes.
 Course Syllabus Saturday, 16:00 – 17:30 (UTC +8)

Module Date Study Type Faculty

1 25 March Introduction and overview Prof Jayaprakash Muliyil
Differences between RCT and observational studies Prof Thambu David Sudarsanam
2 1 April Randomized Controlled Trials Prof Satish Kumar
3 15 April Cohort Studies Prof Vignesh Kumar Chandiresharan
4 22 Apr Case-Control Studies Prof Jayaprakash Muliyil
5 29 Apr Diagnostic Studies Prof Thambu David Sudarsanam
6 6 May Economic Studies Prof Divya Elizabeth Muliyil
7 15 May Systematic Reviews Prof Prathap Tharyan
8 20 May Guidelines Prof Vignesh Kumar Chandiresharan

One AYR per each module will be given pre-course training materials and undergo
training in critical appraisal skills under the guidance of expert faculty
Time MNO
11:00 Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria
12:00 Oman, United Arab Emirates
12:30 Iran
13:00 Pakistan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan
13:30 India, Sri Lanka
13:45 Nepal
14:00 Bangladesh, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyztan
14:30 Myanmar
15:00 Cambodia, Indonesia, Khovd, Thailand, Vietnam
16:00 China, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Perth, Philippines, Singapore, Taiwan, Ulaanbaatar
17:00 Japan, Korea
17:30 Darwin
19:00 Sydney
21:00 New Zealand
 Faculty Team
Prof Jayaprakash Muliyil
Retired Professor and Formr Principal
Christian Medical College
from Christian Medical College, Vellore, India
Prof Thambu David Sudarsanam
Professor and Head
Department of Medicine 2 and Clinical Epidemiology
Unit, Cochrane India, MC Vellore affiliate
Christian Medical College
Prof Vignesh Kumar Chandireseharan
Associate Professor (Consultant)
Department of General Medicine
Christian Medical College
Faculty Team
Prof Satish Kumar
Professor and Consultant Pediatric
Rheumatologist
Department of Pediatrics
Christian Medical College
from Christian Medical College, Vellore, India
Prof Prathap Tharyan
Adjunct Professor, Clinical Epidemiology Unit &
Consultant in Research Synthesis
Department of Gynaecology
Christian Medical College
Prof Divya Elizabeth Muliyil
Associate Professor
Department of Community Health
Christian Medical College
Selected AYR for Active Participation
◦ Do you want to be the selected AYR to acquire and practice your critical appraisal skills under the
guidance of an expert faculty in one of the modules? If yes, please apply NOW!
➢ Register as a Selected AYR for Active Participation: https://aplar.org/application-for-active-participation-in-critical-appraisal-course/

o All rheumatologists in APLAR are welcome to attend

➢ Register as a Webinar Participant: https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_aMPe1rA7RVC7EsmlYTy_-w