Research Evidence Appraisal Tool : Johns Hopkins Nursing Evidence-Based Practice Appendix E
Research Evidence Appraisal Tool
Johns Hopkins Nursing Evidence-Based Practice
Appendix E: Research Evidence Appraisal Tool
© The Johns Hopkins Hospital/Johns Hopkins University. May not be used or reprinted without permission. Page 1
Article Title: Number:
BUY A PLAGIARISM-FREE PAPER NOW
Author(s): Publication Date:
Journal:
Setting: Sample
(Composition & size):
Does this evidence address my EBP question? Yes No
Do not proceed with appraisal of this evidence
Level of Evidence (Study Design)
A. Is this a report of a single research study? If No, go to B.
1. Was there manipulation of an independent variable?
2. Was there a control group?
3. Were study participants randomly assigned to the intervention and control
groups?
If Yes to all three, this is a Randomized Controlled Trial (RCT) or Experimental
Study
If Yes to #1 and #2 and No to #3, OR Yes to #1 and No to #2 and #3, this is Quasi
Experimental (some degree of investigator control, some manipulation of
an independent variable, lacks random assignment to groups, may have a
control group)
If No to #1, #2, and #3, this is Non-Experimental (no manipulation of independent
variable, can be descriptive, comparative, or correlational, often uses secondary
data) or Qualitative (exploratory in nature such as interviews or focus groups, a
starting point for studies for which little research currently exists, has small
sample sizes, may use results to design empirical studies)
NEXT, COMPLETE THE BOTTOM SECTION ON THE FOLLOWING PAGE, “STUDY
FINDINGS THAT HELP YOU ANSWER THE EBP QUESTION”
LEVEL I
LEVEL II
LEVEL III
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
No
No
No
Evidence Level and Quality:_______________________
Johns Hopkins Nursing Evidence-Based Practice
Appendix E: Research Evidence Appraisal Tool
© The Johns Hopkins Hospital/Johns Hopkins University. May not be used or reprinted without permission. Page 2
B. Is this a summary of multiple research studies? If No, go to Non-Research
Evidence Appraisal Form.
1. Does it employ a comprehensive search strategy and rigorous appraisal method
(Systematic Review)? If No, use Non-Research Evidence Appraisal Tool; if
Yes:
a. Does it combine and analyze results from the studies to generate a new
statistic (effect size)? (Systematic review with meta-analysis)
b. Does it analyze and synthesize concepts from qualitative studies?
(Systematic review with meta-synthesis)
If Yes to either a or b, go to #2B below.
2. For Systematic Reviews and Systematic Reviews with meta-analysis or metasynthesis:
a. Are all studies included RCTs?
b. Are the studies a combination of RCTs and quasi-experimental or
quasi-experimental only?
c. Are the studies a combination of RCTs, quasi-experimental and
non-experimental or non-experimental only?
d. Are any or all of the included studies qualitative?
COMPLETE THE NEXT SECTION, “STUDY FINDINGS THAT HELP YOU ANSWER
THE EBP QUESTION”
LEVEL I
LEVEL II
LEVEL IIl
LEVEL IIl
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
No
No
No
STUDY FINDINGS THAT HELP YOU ANSWER THE EBP QUESTION:
NOW COMPLETE THE FOLLOWING PAGE, “QUALITY APPRAISAL OF RESEARCH STUDIES”, AND ASSIGN A
QUALITY SCORE TO YOUR ARTICLE
Johns Hopkins Nursing Evidence-Based Practice
Appendix E: Research Evidence Appraisal Tool
© The Johns Hopkins Hospital/Johns Hopkins University. May not be used or reprinted without permission. Page 3
Quality Appraisal of Research Studies
Does the researcher identify what is known and not known about the problem and how the
study will address any gaps in knowledge?
Was the purpose of the study clearly presented?
Was the literature review current (most sources within last 5 years or classic)?
Was sample size sufficient based on study design and rationale?
If there is a control group:
o Were the characteristics and/or demographics similar in both the control and
intervention groups?
o If multiple settings were used, were the settings similar?
o Were all groups equally treated except for the intervention group(s)?
Are data collection methods described clearly?
Were the instruments reliable (Cronbach’s α [alpha] > 0.70)?
Was instrument validity discussed?
If surveys/questionnaires were used, was the response rate > 25%?
Were the results presented clearly?
If tables were presented, was the narrative consistent with the table content?
Were study limitations identified and addressed?
Were conclusions based on results?
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
No
No
No
No
No
No
No
No
No
No
No
No
No
No
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
Quality Appraisal of Systematic Review with or without Meta-Analysis or Meta-Synthesis
Was the purpose of the systematic review clearly stated?
Were reports comprehensive, with reproducible search strategy?
o Key search terms stated
o Multiple databases searched and identified
o Inclusion and exclusion criteria stated
Was there a flow diagram showing the number of studies eliminated at each level of
review?
Were details of included studies presented (design, sample, methods, results, outcomes,
strengths and limitations)?
Were methods for appraising the strength of evidence (level and quality) described?
Were conclusions based on results?
o Results were interpreted
o Conclusions flowed logically from the interpretation and systematic review question
Did the systematic review include both a section addressing limitations and how they were
addressed?
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
No
No
No
No
No
No
No
No
No
No
No
QUALITY RATING BASED ON QUALITY APPRAISAL
A High quality: consistent, generalizable results; sufficient sample size for the study design; adequate control; definitive
conclusions; consistent recommendations based on comprehensive literature review that includes thorough reference
to scientific evidence
B Good quality: reasonably consistent results; sufficient sample size for the study design; some control, and fairly
definitive conclusions; reasonably consistent recommendations based on fairly comprehensive literature review that
includes some reference to scientific evidence
C Low quality or major flaws: little evidence with inconsistent results; insufficient sample size for the study design;
conclusions cannot be drawn
Research Evidence Appraisal Tool : Johns Hopkins Nursing Evidence-Based Practice Appendix E