Research Paper Critical Appraisal Worksheet

This printable PDF worksheet guides you through appraising any clinical research paper in four parts: question and design, trustworthiness, results, and applicability.

What is inside

• Paper details and design questions
• Internal validity prompts (selection, confounding, measurement, attrition, analysis)
• Results prompts (effect size, precision, clinical importance)
• External validity prompts and an overall judgement

How to use it

1. Print one copy per paper.
2. Answer from the paper itself, quoting page numbers where helpful.
3. Use design-specific tools (CASP, JBI, RoB 2, ROBINS-I) for formal appraisal.
4. Discuss your judgement with a peer.

Example (illustrative)

A note: Groups differed at baseline in age (mean 71 vs 64): possible confounding. (Illustrative.)

Limitations and cautions

A worksheet supports your thinking; it does not generate a validated score. For formal appraisal in a review, use the recognised tool that matches the design and have two people complete it. The file is free to use and edit, and the footer credits MedResearch Ninja.

MRN templates are original, editable starting points. Reporting standards (PRISMA, CARE, ICMJE and others) belong to their authors: use the official versions linked above for formal submissions.