Critically Appraised Topics
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:
- Purpose
- Reviewer
- Date of completion
- Well-built questions
- Search strategies and results
- Evidence retrieved
- Appraisal
- Conclusions
Why do we need CATs
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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. 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
- ↑ Centre for Evidence Based Emergency Medicine, http://www.ebem.org/definitions.html#Critically%20appraised%20topic last accessed 21st March 2011
