Issue link: https://www.massageandbodyworkdigital.com/i/196551
be a conflict of interest potentially leading to biased research findings. Critical appraisal is an assessment of the pros and cons of the study, then a determination of whether the pros outweigh the cons. Where Was the Research Published? Was the study published in a scientific journal? Most newspaper articles that describe new research will provide a citation, including the name of the journal in which the article was published. If that is not provided, we have to ask if this was a legitimate research study. Scientific journals usually reject research that was done poorly or that has too much bias. We have to be somewhat suspicious when research is first published anywhere other than in a scientific journal; authors sometimes self-publish on websites or in pamphlets to make their results seem valuable and credible. The quality of articles is better in journals versus other publications mainly because the article review process for journals is very rigorous. Prior to an article being accepted for publication in a journal, several scientists (called peer-reviewers) must review and approve the article. If they do not approve, because there are points of confusion or some potential bias for example, the article is sent back to the author for further clarification. These requests for revisions are meant to strengthen the manuscript, and this process can go back and forth several times. Because of this peer-review process, the quality of journal articles is greatly improved. Can You Access the Research Article? Taking the time to read the original article will give you a foundational understanding of what the researchers did and why. Finding that original article is sometimes challenging. If the newspaper article doesn't include a reference list, look for a quote from one of the researchers within the article, then use this name in an author search on PubMed (www.pubmed.gov). PubMed is a search engine for research articles that provides you with research citations and their associated abstracts (abstracts are shortened versions of an article). When you perform a search, you will most likely get many results, but you can narrow your results by adding other key words. For example, if the article states that Ben Jones was the principal investigator for the study, you could start by searching "Jones B," add a date and search "Jones B 2011," or add a topic and search "Jones B massage therapy." PubMed is a lot like Google in that you might have to try different combinations of words to find what you are looking for. Once you find the citation, check to see if it is a free, full-text article. You can also check Google Scholar (www.scholar.google.com) for the full-text article. If you are not able to access the article, a reference librarian can certainly help you. What Are the Study's Pros and Cons? Critical appraisal of research articles is more than just hunting for bias. Instead, critical appraisal is an assessment of the pros and cons of the study, and then a determination of whether the pros outweigh the cons. Most researchers recognize that there are biases in all research studies and will freely point out their study's limitations in the discussion section of a paper. But, it is best for us to read the article and determine for ourselves what we appreciate about the article and what concerns us. Here are some things to look for: Does the number of subjects included in the study seem to www.abmp.com. See what benefits await you. 55