This tool can help you review a piece of health research by guiding you through a series of questions to ask about it. Once you have answered all the questions, you will receive a summary of your answers to help you read a conclusion about the research.
Reviewing a paper can take up to 30 minutes, but you can stop at any point and get a summary of your answers by clicking "Go to summary" at the bottom of the page.
Here are four tips to help you get the most out of the tool:
- Hold your mouse pointer over words underlined with dotted line to see a definition of that word
- On some pages clicking "show more help" will provide more explanation to help you answer the questions
- If you are not sure, pick the answer you think is closest, and remember that you can always go back
- If you are not used to reading research articles, we recommend you start with our brief guide how to read a scientific paper
Remember that even if research is good research, that does not necessarily mean the findings apply to your circumstances. When weighing up scientific evidence, it is never a good idea to rely on the results of one study. Each study only tells part of the evidence 'story'. We recommend that you consult a health professional before making any major decisions that may affect your health.
Understanding Health Research