Assessment task 4: Critical Appraisal Include an assignment cover page with the following details: title of task, subject code and name, subject coordinator, degree, student ID, word count (actual), date of submission. Word count: 2500 words ± 10% Weighting: 50% Word count includes in-text references. Headings, subheadings and reference list and figures are not included in word count. Follow the assessment task brief and rubric to guide the content required for each section. 1. Descriptive title (not included in the word count) 2. A summary of the topic and a clear articulation of a clinical issue or problem, identifying a structured clinical question (400 words approximately) a. Make sure you state your question and identify each component. b. You may use the first person in this section only. 3. A reproducible search strategy and reference to the PRISMA figure (250 words approximately). a. Include a description of the databases, keywords, subjects headings, Boolean operators and any limits applied. 4. A brief rationale for selecting the ‘best’ study (200 words approximately). 5. A critical appraisal of the study’s validity and interpretation and discussion of the study’s results, including: a. A summary of the study (200 words approximately). This should include the study aim(s) and patients, intervention/ issue/ experience, comparator (if appropriate), outcome and time (PICOT/ PEO) study elements. b. Critical Appraisal of the selected study’s internal and external validity (950 words approximately). The questions to address here will be the critical appraisal questions from the appropriate appraisal tool for your chosen study. See notes below. c. Report, interpret and discuss the study’s results. Interpret and discuss only the results relevant to your question (250 words approximately). 6. Application of the one study’s results to the identified clinical issue or problem in practice (250 words approximately). The use of evidence to support this discussion is recommended. Notes: – You do not have to create a table of the six studies you have narrowed your search to. – You may refer to the six studies when providing the rationale for the one study you have chosen to appraise. If you refer to any of the six studies, please reference them. – Ensure you reference the critical appraisal tool you have used. – Ensure you reference the study you have appraised and name the study auhtor’s in the appraisal. – We expect there will be similarity between AT1 and AT4 if you are exploring the same topic. – If you are appraising a qualitative study then you are appraising the rigour of the study in the critical appraisal component.
