JBI COnNECT Resources: Appraising the Evidence
Introduction
What is Critical Appraisal?
Appraisal is a technique used to increase the effectiveness of your reading by enabling you to quickly exclude papers that are of too poor a quality to inform practice, and to systematically evaluate those that are of sufficient quality.
Why would I need appraisal skills?
Critical appraisal is a vital part of evidence-based practice. In all health professions, the expansion in knowledge and information has increased enormously. Because of this, there is an increasing significance in teaching methods of accessing and evaluating evidence.
What appraisal resources are available?
- JBI RAPid (Rapid Appraisal Protocol Internet Database)
- Information on becoming part of the JBI International Appraisal Network
- Information on becoming part of the JBI International Evidence Synthesis Network
Who are these resources for?
JBI RAPid is designed to assist individual practitioners or students to obtain the skills of posing relevant questions about the feasibility, appropriateness, meaningfulness or effectiveness (FAME) of an intervention or professional activity (Click here for more information on the FAME scale). JBI RAPid also offers the possibility of publishing the appraisal in the form of a refereed report in the JBI RAP Library.
The Joanna Briggs Critical Appraisal Network is an international network for those interested in the critical appraisal of evidence for health care practice. The network is made up of health researchers and practitioners who act as reviewers for submissions to the JBI RAP Library. Click here for more information on the Joanna Briggs Critical Appraisal Network
The Joanna Briggs Institute Evidence Synthesis Network is aimed at graduates with research training who are interested in critical appraisal and systematic reviews. Evidence Synthesis Groups consist of at least three members who contribute by conducting and publishing JBI systematic reviews. Click here for more information on the Joanna Briggs Evidence Synthesis Network
Do I have access to this resource?
If your organisation is a corporate or educational member of JBI or you are a subscriber to JBI COnNECT you have access to JBI RAPid (including the ability to submit and complete RAPs for peer review and [subject to peer review] publication in the RAP Library)
Individual student members, library members, organisational members, business members, individual members and consumer members have access to the RAP Library ONLY and NOT RAPmaker.
JBI RAPid
The JBI Rapid Assessment Protocol internet database (JBI RAPid) is an online training resources that teaches critical appraisal of research evidence using established data collection tools, as well as offering the possibility of publishing the appraisal in the form of a referred report in the JBI RAP Library.
JBI RAPid assists users to acquire skills of posing relevant questions about the feasibility, appropriateness, meaningfulness or effectiveness of an intervention or professional activity and to pursue this question through applying the basic steps of the critical appraisal process.
JBI Evidence Appraisors
JBI Evidence Appraisors are clinicians, teachers or academics with an interest in the critical appraisal of evidence for health care practice. JBI Evidence Appraisors must have completed the online JBI Critical Appraisal training program (RAPcap) (provided at no cost) and accept responsibility for reviewing RAP Reports submitted to JBI through the RAPid program. Reviewers must complete the JBI online training module on RAP appraisal; and review RAP Reports sent to them by JBI.
JBI Evidence Appraisal Network
The Joanna Briggs Evidence Appraisal Network (EAN) is made up of health researchers and practitioners with an interest in the critical appraisal of evidence for health care practice. Members of the Network act as reviewers for submissions to the JBI RAP Library, coordinated through the leadership of the Joanna Briggs Institute. The Joanna Briggs Evidence Appraisal Network supports JBI through reviewing submissions to the RAP Library, and evaluating and developing critical appraisal methods used by JBI.
The EAN is a coordinated body of academics, educators and clinicians from around the world who have completed the Joanna Briggs Institute Evidence Appraisal online training program and who work together to:
- share experiences on teaching critical appraisal
- engage in dialogue and debate to develop new approaches to evidence appraisal; and
- support the Joanna Briggs Institute RAPid online critical appraisal program by peer reviewing student and clinician submissions to the online RAP Library.
By participating in the Network, members also facilitate the JBI RAPid process in their own teaching and are able to motivate and encourage their own students or clinical colleagues by providing them with access to external peer review by other Network members - and the potential for these students or colleagues of publishing their appraisal reports in the JBI RAP Library.
JBI Evidence Synthesis Groups
Evidence Synthesis Groups contribute to the work of JBI and JBI Collaborating Centres by conducting and publishing JBI Systematic Reviews. Evidence Synthesis Groups consist of at least three members who are graduates with research training. All members must have successfully completed a JBI Comprehensive Systematic Review Training Program and one member of the group must be named as Group Convener. Evidence Synthesis Groups conduct systematic reviews following the JBI approach (or, in the case of reviews of effectiveness, the approach adopted by the Cochrane Collaboration).
An Evidence Synthesis Group is required to:
- participate in the peer review process of no less than one Joanna Briggs Institute Systematic Review Protocol per year
- participate in the peer review process of no less than one Joanna Briggs Institute Systematic Review Report per year; and
- conduct no less than one Joanna Briggs Institute Systematic Review every two years.
JBI Evidence Synthesis Network
The Joanna Briggs Institute Evidence Synthesis Network is a coordinated, international entity of JBI, made up of Evidence Synthesis Groups coordinated through the leadership of the Joanna Briggs Institute. Linked to the Joanna Briggs Institute Collaboration, with collaborating evidenced-based practice centres in Europe, Africa, Asia, the Americas and Australia, the Network contributes to the work of JBI and JBI Collaborating Centres by conducting and publishing JBI Systematic Reviews. For more information on the Network, email Vanessa Scott: vanessa.scott@adelaide.edu.au.