Resident Research Training, Department of Anesthesiology, Queen's University, Kingston General Hospital

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A Time-Sensitive Plan for Research Training during Anesthesia Residency at Queen's:

Phase 1 - Fundamentals of Research and Critical Appraisal

Phase 2 - Research Project Conception and Design

Phase 3 - Conduct of Research/Presentation of results

Appendix 1 - Objectives of Training and Specialty Training Requirements in Anesthesia

Appendix 2 - Suggested Guidelines for Critical Appraisal of Papers for the Anesthesia Journal Club

Appendix 2:

Suggested Guidelines for Critical Appraisal of Papers for the Anesthesia Journal Club
By Dr. Joel Parlow (Revised 2002)

GENERAL

1. Title: Does it seem like an important problem?
2. Authors, institution and country of origin?

INTRODUCTION

1. What is the problem being addressed?
2. What is the current state of knowledge of the problem studied?
3. What is the hypothesis being tested?
4. How does testing the hypothesis help solve the stated problem?

METHODOLOGY

1. Study design:
a) Prospective vs. retrospective
b) Observational vs. Experimental
c) Randomized or not
d) Blinded or not

2. Population studies:
a) Human, animal, other
b) Justification
c) Controls: experimental vs. historical
d) Is the sample size/power sufficient
e) Is it similar to your own practice?

3. Is the study ethically sound?

4. Exclusions: what groups are excluded and why?

5. Experimental protocol
a) Is it designed to test the hypothesis?
b) Is it detailed enough to be reproducible
c) Is the methodology validated?
d) Are the drugs/equipment used detailed?
e) How does the randomization take place?

6. What are the primary endpoints?
7. Is the protocol clinically relevant?
8. Data collection and analysis
9. Statistical analysis: Is it appropriate?

RESULTS

1. Are the groups comparable?
2. Were any subjects/data eliminated?
3. Are adequate details of results provided? - data, graphs, tables

DISCUSSION

1. What is the main conclusion of the study?
2. Do the results support this conclusion?
3. Do the results address the stated purpose/hypothesis of the study?
4. How do the authors explain the results obtained?
5. Are there any alternative interpretations to the data?
6. Are the results clinically as well statistically relevant?
7. How do the results compare with those of previous studies?
8. What do the results add to the existing literature?
9. What are the limitations of the methods or analysis used?
10. What are the unanswered questions for future work?

APPLICABILITY OF THE PAPER

1. Have you learned something important from reading this paper?
2. Will the results of this study alter your clinical practice?

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