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Centre for Policy on Ageing | |
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Using quality assessment tools to critically appraise ageing research
— a guide for clinicians | | Author(s) | Jennifer Kirsty Harrison, James Reid, Terry J Quinn, Susan Deborah Shenkin |
| Journal title | Age and Ageing, vol 46, no 3, May 2017 |
| Publisher | Oxford University Press, May 2017 |
| Pages | pp 359-365 |
| Source | https://academic.oup.com/ageing |
| Keywords | Health [elderly] ; Ageing process ; Research ; Methodology ; Quality. |
| Annotation | Evidence based medicine shows that published research should not be accepted at face value. Even research from established teams published in the highest impact journals can have methodological flaws and biases. Critical appraisal of research studies can seem daunting, but tools are available to make the process easier for the non-specialist. Understanding the language and process of quality assessment is essential when considering or conducting research, and is also valuable for all clinicians who use published research to inform their clinical practice. In this study the authors present a review written specifically for the practising geriatrician. This considers how quality is defined in relation to the methodological conduct and reporting of research. Having established why quality assessment is important, the authors then present and critique tools which are available to standardise quality assessment. Five study designs are considered as follows: randomised controlled trials (RCTs), non-randomised studies, observational studies, systematic reviews and diagnostic test accuracy studies. Quality assessment for each of these study designs is illustrated with an example of published cognitive research. The practical applications of the tools are highlighted, with guidance on their strengths and limitations. Educational resources are signposted and specific advice is offered for use of these tools. It is hoped that all geriatricians become comfortable with critical appraisal of published research and that use of the tools described in this review _ along with awareness of their strengths and limitations _ become a part of teaching, journal clubs and practice. (JL). |
| Accession Number | CPA-170519200 A |
| Classmark | CC: BG: 3A: 3D: 59 |
Data © Centre for Policy on Ageing |
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| ...from the Ageinfo database published by Centre for Policy on Ageing. |
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