Critical appraisal is the process of systematically evaluating and assessing research to check its quality, relevance and validity.
Essential to evidence-based practice, it helps enrich your research and learning and can be applied in a range of circumstances, such as formal or informal research projects, your professional development or while studying.
To support healthcare professionals to develop invaluable critical appraisal skills, the NHS Knowledge for Healthcare Learning Academy has partnered with Health Education England elearning for healthcare (HEE elfh) to develop a new elearning programme – Critically Appraising the Evidence Base.
Working through each module will give you the tools to help you to ask the right questions of research when assessing its strengths and weaknesses and give you the confidence to evaluate evidence to inform decision making.
The 1st session – Introduction to Critical Appraisal – is now available to access and 7 other sessions will be available in early 2023.
By the end of the programme, you will understand why critical appraisal is important for study, research and professional development. You will also be able to use the relevant tools and techniques with confidence across a range of research models and healthcare information.
The resource supports a more blended approach to learning and the gradual application of critical appraisal techniques. You can choose to complete this programme as a whole or by visiting specific sessions appropriate to your work, study or research.
For more information and to access the resource, please visit the Critically Appraising the Evidence Base programme page.