Using critical appraisal tools to evaluate research and determine applicability to clinical practice

Patient outcomes are improved when healthcare workers use EvidenceBased Practices (EBP). The cornerstones of EBP are finding and using robust research for clinical application. Evaluating the research findings worthy of inclusion can be difficult, especially for nurses who are not well versed in research practices. The use of Critical Appraisal Tools (CATs) can help nurses determine whether research findings are worthwhile and should be translated into practice for their patient populations or not. Several organizations have developed CATs to assist nurses in analyzing various types of research. Determining which tool is most relevant can be challenging for nurses. The content of this article helps nurses better understand the EBP process. The report includes a definition of critical appraisal, a review of the commonly used appraisal tools, and a description of how practitioners use them in evidence-based practice implementation to enhance patient care.