Evaluating the validity of a therapy study

< Back to search results
  • Format Lessons, Websites
  • Language/s English
  • Target Audience Further education
  • EBM Stage 3 - Appraising evidence
  • Duration 5-15 mins
  • Difficulty Intermediate

Key Concepts addressed

Details

This tutorial will focus on the question: are the results of the study valid? The issue of validity speaks to the “truthfulness” of the information. The validity criteria should be applied before an extensive analysis of the study data. If the study is not valid, the data may not be useful.

The evidence that supports the validity or truthfulness of the information is found primarily in the study methodology. Here is where the investigators address the issue of bias, both conscious and unconscious. Study methodologies such as randomization, blinding and follow-up of patients help insure that the study results are not overly influenced by the investigators or the patients.

Evaluating the medical literature is a complex undertaking. This session will provide you with some basic criteria and information to consider when trying to decide if the study methodology is sound. You will find that the answers to the questions of validity may not always be clearly stated in the article and that readers will have to make their own judgments about the importance of each question. Read more

Discussion

Leave a Reply

0 Comments

You may also like

Qualitative research

Finding and appraising qualitative evidence

Rated from votes
Please log in to rate items

Clinical Trials Career

For lecture on 3 June 2021

Rated from votes
Please log in to rate items

Intro PH

intro PH

Rated from votes
Please log in to rate items