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APPENDIX E

Appraisal Guide:

Findings of a Qualitative Study

Citation:

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Synopsis

What experience, situation, or subculture does the researcher seek to understand?

Does the researcher want to produce a description of an experience, a social process, or an event, or is the goal to generate a theory?

How was data collected?

How did the researcher control his or her biases and preconceptions?

Are specific pieces of data (e.g., direct quotes) and more generalized statements (themes, theories) included in the report?

What are the main findings of the study?

Credibility

Is the study published in a source
that required peer review?  Yes   No   Not clear

Were the methods used appropriate
to the study purpose?  Yes   No   Not clear

Was the sampling of observations or
interviews appropriate and varied
enough to serve the purpose of the study?  Yes   No   Not clear

*Were data collection methods
effective in obtaining in-depth data?  Yes   No   Not clear

Did the data collection methods
avoid the possibility of oversight,
underrepresentation, or
overrepresentation from certain
types of sources?  Yes   No   Not clear

Were data collection and analysis
intermingled in a dynamic way?  Yes   No   Not clear

*Is the data presented in ways that
provide a vivid portrayal of what was
experienced or happened and its
context?  Yes   No   Not clear

*Does the data provided justify
generalized statements, themes,
or theory?  Yes   No   Not clear

Are the findings credible?  Yes All   Yes Some   No

Clinical Significance

*Are the findings rich and informative?  Yes   No   Not clear

*Is the perspective provided
potentially useful in providing
insight, support, or guidance
for assessing patient status
or progress?  Yes   Some  No  Not clear

Are the findings
clinically significant?  Yes All   Yes Some   No

* = Important criteria

Comments

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APP E-2 Brown

Brown APP E-1

APPENDIX F

Appraisal Guide:

Findings of a Quantitative Study

Citation:

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Synopsis

What was the purpose of the study (research questions, purposes, and hypotheses)?

How was the sample obtained?

What inclusion or exclusion criteria were used?

Who from the sample actually participated or contributed data (demographic or clinical profile and dropout rate)?

What methods were used to collect data (e.g., sequence, timing, types of data, and measures)?

Was an intervention tested?  Yes   No

1. How was the sample size determined?

2. Were patients randomly assigned to treatment groups?

What are the main findings?

Credibility

Is the study published in a source
that required peer review?  Yes   No   Not clear

*Did the data obtained and the
analysis conducted answer the
research question?  Yes   No   Not clear

Were the measuring instruments
reliable and valid?  Yes   No   Not clear

*Were important extraneous
variables and bias controlled?  Yes   No   Not clear

*If an intervention was tested,
answer the following five questions:  Yes   No   Not clear

1. Were participants randomly
assigned to groups and were
the two groups similar at the
start (before the intervention)?  Yes   No   Not clear

2. Were the interventions well
defined and consistently
delivered?  Yes   No   Not clear

3. Were the groups treated
equally other than the
difference in interventions?  Yes   No   Not clear

4. If no difference was found, was
the sample size large enough
to detect a difference if one existed?  Yes   No   Not clear

5. If a difference was found, are
you confident it was due to the
intervention?  Yes   No   Not clear

Are the findings consistent with
findings from other studies?  Yes   Some   No   Not clear

Are the findings credible?  Yes All   Yes Some   No

Clinical Significance

Note any difference in means, r2s, or measures of clinical effects (ABI, NNT, RR, OR)

*Is the target population clearly
described?  Yes   No   Not clear

*Is the frequency, association, or
treatment effect impressive enough
for you to be confident that the finding
would make a clinical difference if used
as the basis for care?  Yes   No   Not clear

Are the findings
clinically significant?  Yes All   Yes Some   No

* = Important criteria

Comments

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