The effects of add-on corticosteroids on renal outcomes in patients with biopsy proven HIV associated nephropathy: a single centre study from South Africa
MSc Internal Medicine
Introductory Skills and Generic Skills critical appraisal assignment
How to complete this assessement:
- Save a copy of this Word document and rename it with IM2021-22_SEBP_ followed by your student UUN – e.g. IM2021-22_SEBP_s15821582
- On the following pages, you will find one question per page. Read the paper and answer the questions in your own words, citing literature sources as appropriate to support your points. Write your answer underneath each question (please do not delete the question).
For each question, we have indicated a suggested maximum number of words, and the weighting given to each question in the overall mark for this assignment.
The word counts are an approximate guide to how many words to “spend” on each question, and a bit of variance is no problem. The overall word limit should not be exceeded. References are not included in the word count.
- Style of writing and references A further 15% of marks will be allocated for: clarity of writing including structure, language and grammar; and appropriate use of literature to support arguments, and referenced in appropriate format. Use complete sentences to make your points and avoid bullet points or copying and pasting from the source articles. There should be a single combined reference list at the end of the document.
Mitigating against chance and systematic bias in study design and implementation A
- Explain in your own words how the effects of chance (random error) and systematic biases can be reduced in clinical trials. This question is about the methods in general, and the next question is about approaches used in the paper we are appraising. (~400 words; 20% of mark)
Mitigating against chance and systematic bias in study design and implementation B
- In your own words, appraise how the authors have addressed the role of chance and potential for bias in their research (~400 words; 20% of mark)
Methods of analysis A
- Choose one of the following approaches to analysing or presenting results of clinical trials:
- Intention to treat
- Kaplan-Meier survival curve
- p Values
And in your own words, describe the strengths and/or limitations of using this method with clinical trial data.
This question is about the method in general, and the next question is about how it is used in the paper we are appraising. (~200 words; 10% of mark)
Methods of analysis B
- Write an assessment of how the authors of the paper we are appraising have applied the method you selected in the previous question, including whether the application was appropriate, what data were used and whether the results are presented clearly. (~200 words; 10% of mark)
Findings A
- In your own words, appraise whether the authors’ conclusions are supported by the data – why and/or why not? (~200 words; 10% of mark)
Findings B
- Summarise the implications of this paper for practice as though you were presenting to an audience your internal medicine peers, in order to inform whether or not they should change their current clinical practice on the basis of this study, and why. (~300 words; 15% of mark)
