Critical appraisal of research papers can be made easier through the use of a structured review instrument. The first part of this paper considered questions about the purpose and design of a clinical trial. Interpreting the findings of a study requires some understanding of concepts such as probability and significance. This section will explain some of the more commonly used statistical terms and concludes the critical appraisal of a research paper by discussing how to assess the validity of the findings and their applicability to your own practice.
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