Critical Appraisal of Published Literature

Overview

For this assignment, you will select an appropriate appraisal tool (cohort studies, case control studies, systematic reviews, qualitative studies, et cetera) to analyze three published journal articles related to the topic of hypertension in the African American population. This assignment will help you to develop critical and analytical skills by methodically appraising the merits of published research. A sound appraisal will gather the most reliable information concerning a health problem, relevant research methodology, and conceptual frameworks.

In addition, you will write a brief summary on how you will use the information from these appraised journal articles in your proposed intervention study and determine how the interpretation of the research results described in the articles are affected by information bias, selection bias, and confounding.

Instructions

1. Analyze three published journal articles related to the topic you selected for the assignment in Unit 3.
2. Write a brief summary of how you will use the information from these appraised journal articles in your proposed intervention study and how the interpretation of the research results described in the articles are affected by information bias, selection bias, and confounding.

Document Format and Length

• Use the Appraisal of Literature Template, attached.
• Your appraisal document should be 2–4 pages in length.

Appraisal Requirements

The requirements outlined below correspond to the grading criteria in the Critical Appraisal of Published Literature Scoring Guide, so be sure to address each point. Read the performance-level descriptions for each criterion to see how your work will be assessed.

• Analyze research articles related to an epidemiological issue, using the appropriate appraisal tools.
• Summarize how information from appraised journal articles could be integrated into a proposed intervention study.
• Identify the public health data that highlight the severity and magnitude of a selected epidemiological issue.
• Discuss how interpretation of results from scholarly articles are affected by information bias, selection bias, and confounding.
• Write clearly and concisely in a logically coherent and appropriate form and style.

Submission Requirements

Proofread your assignment, before you submit it, to minimize errors that could distract readers and make it more difficult for them to focus on the substance of your appraisal.