How to read a paper : the basics of evidence-based medicine and healthcare

Previous edition: 2014.

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Why read papers at all? -- Searching the literature -- Getting your bearings : what is this paper about? -- Assessing methodological quality -- Statistics for the non-statistician -- Papers that report trials of drugs and other simple interventions -- Papers that report trials of complex interventions -- Papers that report diagnostic or screening tests -- Papers that summarise other papers (systematic reviews and meta-analyses) -- Papers that tell you what to do (guidelines) -- Papers that tell you what things cost (economic analyses) -- Papers that go beyond numbers (qualitative research) -- Papers that report questionnaire research -- Papers that report quality improvement case studies -- Papers that describe genetic association studies -- Applying evidence with patients -- Criticisms of evidence-based healthcare.

Required reading in many medical and healthcare institutions, How to Read a Paper is a clear and wide-ranging introduction to evidence-based medicine and healthcare, helping readers to understand its central principles, critically evaluate published data, and implement the results in practical settings. Author Trisha Greenhalgh guides readers through each fundamental step of inquiry, from searching the literature to assessing methodological quality and appraising statistics. How to Read a Paper addresses the common criticisms of evidence-based healthcare, dispelling many of its myths and misconceptions, while providing a pragmatic framework for testing the validity of healthcare literature. Now in its sixth edition, this informative text includes new and expanded discussions of study bias, political interference in published reports, medical statistics, big data and more. Offers user-friendly guidance on evidence-based healthcare that is applicable to both experienced and novice readers Authored by an internationally recognised practitioner and researcher in evidence-based healthcare and primary care Includes updated references, additional figures, improved checklists and more How to Read a Paper is an ideal resource for healthcare students, practitioners and anyone seeking an accessible introduction to evidence-based healthcare.