Submissions

Web site designed and maintained by Chris Cairns © SICS EBM Group 2004

Submissions to the SICS EBM Group

There are two main ways to get involved in the work of the EBM group.

1) Evidence-Based Review

Firstly, you could review an intensive care topic with the aim of publishing your review on this web site. The review could be of a topic in which you already have considerable expertise (and you would like to share your ideas with a wider audience) or of an area in which you feel further investigation is needed (areas of confusion, new therapies etc). Any proposed reviews will be considered by the Steering Group. Please contact us at sicsebm@btinternet.com. Each review should consist of a summary linked to critical appraisals (CATs) of the papers used in the project.

For an example of a completed review and its CATs please click here.

We have found that the most convenient way to perform CATs is to use the CATmaker™ critical appraisal software which is available as a free download from the Oxford Centre of Evidence-Based Medicine website. (Link) . This software guides the appraiser through the process in a stepwise manner and then generates NNT tables for each paper. The end product is a well presented, easy-to-read document.

For more information on CATs, including tips on using the software please click here.

In addition to the standard CATmaker format we have added some questions of our own:

1) Do the methods allow accurate testing of the hypothesis?
2) Do the statistical tests correctly test the results to allow differentiation of statistically significant results?
3) Are conclusions valid in light of the results?
4) Did results get omitted, and why?
5) Did they suggest areas of further research?
6) Did they make any recommendations based on the results and were they appropriate?
7) Is the study relevant to my clinical practice?
8) What level of evidence does this study represent?
9) What grade of recommendation can I make on this result alone?

10) What grade of recommendation can I make when this study is considered along with other available evidence?
11) Should I change my practice because of these results?
12) Should I audit my current practice because of these results?

These can be easily added to the document produced by the CATmaker software. An example of this can be seen by clicking here.

Blank templates for the CATs and Summaries are available from the following links

2) 'Stand Alone' or Random CATs

The second way to become involved with the work of the group is to submit a CAT of any paper to the group. We are particularly keen to publish CATs of new or 'classic' papers. Again use the CATmaker software or template including the 12 additional questions. Random CATs are an excellent way to get started in the world of EBM as well as a convenient method of publishing your work.

Submitting to the group

All submissions should be emailed to sicsebm@btinternet.com

One submitted your work will be reviewed by the steering group and at least one external reviewer.

Publication

Once successfully through the reviewing process, your work will be published on this web site for all to see.

Reviewers

The SICS EBM group would like to acknowledge the contribution of the following reviewers:

Dr Peter Andrews (PJDA)

Dr Chris Cairns (CC)

Dr Brian Cuthbertson (BC)

Dr Malcolm Daniel (MD)

Dr Magnus Garrioch (MG)