ABSTRACT

An increasing number of research articles are being published every day due to rapid developments in technology and communication. Unfortunately, most of these published articles are far from reaching the highest methodological quality, even in most prestigious international peer reviewed journals. Considering the limited time devoted to methodological training during medical education on top of these facts, sifting the correct and relevant evidence from the pile of published material is a difficult task for the clinician who is expected to practice in the light of evidence based medicine. Methodological issues in critical appraisal of published research articles are summarized in this review.