Critically Appraised Topics: Difference between revisions

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A CAT is like a shorter and less rigorous version of a systematic review, summarising the best available research evidence on a topic. Usually more than one study is included in a CAT. When professionals summarise a single study, the outcome is a critically appraised paper (or CAP). CATs and CAPs are one way for busy clinicians to collate and share their appraisals.  
A CAT is like a shorter and less rigorous version of a systematic review, summarising the best available research evidence on a topic. Usually more than one study is included in a CAT. When professionals summarise a single study, the outcome is a critically appraised paper (or CAP). CATs and CAPs are one way for busy clinicians to collate and share their appraisals.  


Key parts of a CAT include:<br>
Key parts of a CAT include:<br>  


#Purpose<br>
#Purpose<br>  
#Reviewer<br>
#Reviewer<br>  
#Date of completion<br>
#Date of completion<br>  
#Well-built questions<br>
#Well-built questions<br>  
#Search strategies and results<br>
#Search strategies and results<br>  
#Evidence retrieved<br>
#Evidence retrieved<br>  
#Appraisal<br>
#Appraisal<br>  
#Conclusions<br>
#Conclusions<br>


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It is almost impossible for practitioners to keep up to date with all the new evidence for their field of clinical expertise.&nbsp; Research shows that even seasoned health-care clinicians and practitioners encounter up to 5 “knowledge needs” for every in-patient, and about 2 “needs” for every three out-patients (Sauvé, 1995).&nbsp; “Knowledge needs” raise questions about the best course of action.&nbsp; Evidence-based decision making in clinical scenarios demands time-efficient, up-to-date evidence review.&nbsp; Critically appraised summaries of the best evidence for common clinical or educational questions address these needs.&nbsp; “Gold standard” would be a systematic review, but this takes too much time and effort and is not practicable for clinicians (Ziegler et al., 2001).&nbsp; <br>  
It is almost impossible for practitioners to keep up to date with all the new evidence for their field of clinical expertise.&nbsp; Research shows that even seasoned health-care clinicians and practitioners encounter up to 5 “knowledge needs” for every in-patient, and about 2 “needs” for every three out-patients (Sauvé, 1995).&nbsp; “Knowledge needs” raise questions about the best course of action.&nbsp; Evidence-based decision making in clinical scenarios demands time-efficient, up-to-date evidence review.&nbsp; Critically appraised summaries of the best evidence for common clinical or educational questions address these needs.&nbsp; “Gold standard” would be a systematic review, but this takes too much time and effort and is not practicable for clinicians (Ziegler et al., 2001).&nbsp; <br>  


== CATs as part of the EBP process ==
== CATs as part of the EBP process ==


1. Developing a well-built question<br>2. Search for and select best evidence<br>3. Analyse the evidence - '''Write CAT'''<br>4. Apply the evidence to the clinical situation<br>5. Evaluating the application of the evidence - '''Revise CAT'''<br>6. Disseminating the findings&nbsp; - '''Share CAT'''<br>
1. Developing a well-built question<br>2. Search for and select best evidence<br>3. Analyse the evidence - '''Write CAT'''<br>4. Apply the evidence to the clinical situation<br>5. Evaluating the application of the evidence - '''Revise CAT'''<br>6. Disseminating the findings&nbsp; - '''Share CAT'''<br>
 
== How to Construct a CAT<br> ==
 
 
 
#Identify gaps in knowledge (“knowledge needs”) from client encounters
#Translate the problem into an answerable question
#Formulate a well-built question using the [[PICO Questions|PICO framework]]
#[[PICO Questions|<br>]]<br>

Revision as of 18:46, 16 March 2011

What is a Critically Appraised Topic (CAT)
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A critically appraised topic (or CAT) is a short summary of evidence on a topic of interest, usually focussed around a clinical question. Defined as a brief “summary of a search and critical appraisal of the literature related to a focused clinical question, which should be kept in an easily accessible place so that it can be used to help make clinical decisions”[1].

A CAT is like a shorter and less rigorous version of a systematic review, summarising the best available research evidence on a topic. Usually more than one study is included in a CAT. When professionals summarise a single study, the outcome is a critically appraised paper (or CAP). CATs and CAPs are one way for busy clinicians to collate and share their appraisals.

Key parts of a CAT include:

  1. Purpose
  2. Reviewer
  3. Date of completion
  4. Well-built questions
  5. Search strategies and results
  6. Evidence retrieved
  7. Appraisal
  8. Conclusions

Why do we need CATs
[edit | edit source]

It is almost impossible for practitioners to keep up to date with all the new evidence for their field of clinical expertise.  Research shows that even seasoned health-care clinicians and practitioners encounter up to 5 “knowledge needs” for every in-patient, and about 2 “needs” for every three out-patients (Sauvé, 1995).  “Knowledge needs” raise questions about the best course of action.  Evidence-based decision making in clinical scenarios demands time-efficient, up-to-date evidence review.  Critically appraised summaries of the best evidence for common clinical or educational questions address these needs.  “Gold standard” would be a systematic review, but this takes too much time and effort and is not practicable for clinicians (Ziegler et al., 2001). 

CATs as part of the EBP process[edit | edit source]

1. Developing a well-built question
2. Search for and select best evidence
3. Analyse the evidence - Write CAT
4. Apply the evidence to the clinical situation
5. Evaluating the application of the evidence - Revise CAT
6. Disseminating the findings  - Share CAT

How to Construct a CAT
[edit | edit source]

  1. Identify gaps in knowledge (“knowledge needs”) from client encounters
  2. Translate the problem into an answerable question
  3. Formulate a well-built question using the PICO framework


  1. ↑ Centre for Evidence Based Emergency Medicine, http://www.ebem.org/definitions.html#Critically%20appraised%20topic last accessed 21st March 2011
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