1. G. Biondi Zoccai – Ricerca in cardiologia What to expect? Core modules IntroductionIntroduction Finding out relevant literatureFinding out relevant literature General guidelines for literature appraisalGeneral guidelines for literature appraisal Abstract and Introduction appraisalAbstract and Introduction appraisal Methods and Results appraisal 1 - Patients and proceduresMethods and Results appraisal 1 - Patients and procedures Methods and Results appraisal 2 - Data collection/management and descriptive analysisMethods and Results appraisal 2 - Data collection/management and descriptive analysis Methods and Results appraisal 3 - Inferential analysisMethods and Results appraisal 3 - Inferential analysis Discussion and Conclusions appraisalDiscussion and Conclusions appraisal

2. G. Biondi Zoccai – Ricerca in cardiologia Abstract appraisal The abstract is the most read (and thus probably important) part of an article! While reading an abstract seems an easy task, some points should be borne in mind: Are background, study hypothesis/aim, setting, patients, procedures, outcomes, results, limitations and implications provided?Are background, study hypothesis/aim, setting, patients, procedures, outcomes, results, limitations and implications provided? Is the abstract coherent in itself and to attached tables and text?Is the abstract coherent in itself and to attached tables and text? Are precise statistical data provided? These include raw numbers, percentages, summary point estimates, confidence intervals and p valuesAre precise statistical data provided? These include raw numbers, percentages, summary point estimates, confidence intervals and p values Remember, the only question that an abstract you are reading should address is: is this paper worth of reading in full text?

3. G. Biondi Zoccai – Ricerca in cardiologia Ardissino JAMA 2004 Abstract appraisal

4. G. Biondi Zoccai – Ricerca in cardiologia Abstract appraisal The abstract is the most read (and thus probably important) part of an article! While reading an abstract seems an easy task, some points should be borne in mind: Are background, study hypothesis/aim, setting, patients, procedures, outcomes, results, limitations and implications provided?Are background, study hypothesis/aim, setting, patients, procedures, outcomes, results, limitations and implications provided? Is the abstract coherent in itself and to attached tables and text?Is the abstract coherent in itself and to attached tables and text? Are precise statistical data provided? These include raw numbers, percentages, summary point estimates, confidence intervals and p valuesAre precise statistical data provided? These include raw numbers, percentages, summary point estimates, confidence intervals and p values Remember, the only question that an abstract you are reading should address is: is this paper worth of reading in full text?

5. G. Biondi Zoccai – Ricerca in cardiologia Ardissino JAMA 2004 Abstract appraisal

6. G. Biondi Zoccai – Ricerca in cardiologia Abstract appraisal The abstract is the most read (and thus probably important) part of an article! While reading an abstract seems an easy task, some points should be borne in mind: Are background, study hypothesis/aim, setting, patients, procedures, outcomes, results, limitations and implications provided?Are background, study hypothesis/aim, setting, patients, procedures, outcomes, results, limitations and implications provided? Is the abstract coherent in itself and to attached tables and text?Is the abstract coherent in itself and to attached tables and text? Are precise statistical data provided? These include raw numbers, percentages, summary point estimates, confidence intervals and p valuesAre precise statistical data provided? These include raw numbers, percentages, summary point estimates, confidence intervals and p values Remember, the only question that an abstract you are reading should address is: is this paper worth of reading in full text?

7. G. Biondi Zoccai – Ricerca in cardiologia Abstract appraisal The abstract is the most read (and thus probably important) part of an article! While reading an abstract seems an easy task, some points should be borne in mind: Are background, study hypothesis/aim, setting, patients, procedures, outcomes, results, limitations and implications provided?Are background, study hypothesis/aim, setting, patients, procedures, outcomes, results, limitations and implications provided? Is the abstract coherent in itself and to attached tables and text?Is the abstract coherent in itself and to attached tables and text? Are precise statistical data provided? These include raw numbers, percentages, summary point estimates, confidence intervals and p valuesAre precise statistical data provided? These include raw numbers, percentages, summary point estimates, confidence intervals and p values Remember, the only question that an abstract you are reading should address is: is this paper worth of reading in full text?

8. G. Biondi Zoccai – Ricerca in cardiologia Ardissino JAMA 2004 Abstract appraisal

9. G. Biondi Zoccai – Ricerca in cardiologia Introduction appraisal The introduction is an important part of an article, yet you should not expect or demand too much sophistication from the authors… While thus the introduction should be read, only a few key points should be looked for and read carefully: Are the disease, population, and interventions under interest put into context briefly but precisely?Are the disease, population, and interventions under interest put into context briefly but precisely? Are drawbacks of current approaches emphasized in order to provide a rationale for the study?Are drawbacks of current approaches emphasized in order to provide a rationale for the study? Is the study hypothesis clearly stated? This hopefully also clarifies whether the study is prospective or retrospective!Is the study hypothesis clearly stated? This hopefully also clarifies whether the study is prospective or retrospective!

10. G. Biondi Zoccai – Ricerca in cardiologia Introduction appraisal The introduction is an important part of an article, yet you should not expect or demand too much sophistication from the authors… While thus the introduction should be read, only a few key points should be looked for and read carefully: Are the disease, population, and interventions under interest put into context briefly but precisely?Are the disease, population, and interventions under interest put into context briefly but precisely? Are drawbacks of current approaches emphasized in order to provide a rationale for the study?Are drawbacks of current approaches emphasized in order to provide a rationale for the study? Is the study hypothesis clearly stated? This hopefully also clarifies whether the study is prospective or retrospective!Is the study hypothesis clearly stated? This hopefully also clarifies whether the study is prospective or retrospective!

11. G. Biondi Zoccai – Ricerca in cardiologia Introduction appraisal Ardissino JAMA 2004

12. G. Biondi Zoccai – Ricerca in cardiologia Introduction appraisal The introduction is an important part of an article, yet you should not expect or demand too much sophistication from the authors… While thus the introduction should be read, only a few key points should be looked for and read carefully: Are the disease, population, and interventions under interest put into context briefly but precisely?Are the disease, population, and interventions under interest put into context briefly but precisely? Are drawbacks of current approaches emphasized in order to provide a rationale for the study?Are drawbacks of current approaches emphasized in order to provide a rationale for the study? Is the study hypothesis clearly stated? This hopefully also clarifies whether the study is prospective or retrospective!Is the study hypothesis clearly stated? This hopefully also clarifies whether the study is prospective or retrospective!

13. G. Biondi Zoccai – Ricerca in cardiologia Introduction appraisal Ardissino JAMA 2004

14. G. Biondi Zoccai – Ricerca in cardiologia Introduction appraisal The introduction is an important part of an article, yet you should not expect or demand too much sophistication from the authors… While thus the introduction should be read, only a few key points should be looked for and read carefully: Are the disease, population, and interventions under interest put into context briefly but precisely?Are the disease, population, and interventions under interest put into context briefly but precisely? Are drawbacks of current approaches emphasized in order to provide a rationale for the study?Are drawbacks of current approaches emphasized in order to provide a rationale for the study? Is the study hypothesis clearly stated? This hopefully also clarifies whether the study is prospective or retrospective!Is the study hypothesis clearly stated? This hopefully also clarifies whether the study is prospective or retrospective!

15. G. Biondi Zoccai – Ricerca in cardiologia Introduction appraisal Ardissino JAMA 2004

16. G. Biondi Zoccai – Ricerca in cardiologia Teaching point The more structered the abstract/introduction, the more readable and informative!

17. G. Biondi Zoccai – Ricerca in cardiologia Teaching point