Blog
News and views on the world of critical appraisal skills training.
Interview practice using clinical papers
Monday 19 March 2018 Workshop | Interview practice
Interview practice using clinical papers was the theme for today's events. This proved to be an excellent day for the delegates and we managed to appraise 20 clinical papers and have mock interviews throughout the day. Good luck for all those vivas! If you wish to organise a 1:1 session to practice your critical appraisal skills then contact our team for more information: office@criticalappraisal.com
School of Dentistry workshop, Sheffield
Wednesday 14 March 2018 Dentistry | Workshop | Sheffield
We attended a workshop at Sheffield dental hospital with orthodontists, restorative surgeons, paediatric dentists, public health dentists. The course was aimed at people sitting the dental ISFE consultant exams. A dental specific workbook was used for the teaching as well as a mixture of dental papers for the practical application.
Critical Appraisal Training - Trinity College Dublin
Wednesday 21 February 2018 Training | Dublin
This week we returned to teach at Trinity College in Dublin, Ireland. This is the eighth year we have been involved with the MSc in Healthcare Infection Management. The MSc students included Consultants, junior doctors and nurses. The half-day event was an overview of the key steps in critically appraising research papers. We were also asked to submit questions for the course exam - good luck to all the students!
16th Critical Appraisal Meeting in DHA, Dubai
Monday 12 February 2018 Conference | Dubai
Thank you to all the members at DHA for celebrating with us on the 16th Critical Appraisal event at DHA. The events this year were held at the Hyatt Regency and we included a new format that included basic statistics for doctors followed by ‘how to critically appraise your clinical papers’.
Practice Interviews - Critical Appraisal
Monday 01 January 2018 Interview practice | Training
Interview practice using clinical papers has become very topical in the medical world. If you wish to organise a 1:1 session to practice your critical appraisal skills then contact our team for more information: office@criticalappraisal.com
WebEx Training Opportunities
Monday 01 January 2018 Training
No time for face to face training? Why not try organising a tailor-made WebEx training session. Our team will be happy to discuss your requirements and tailor a session to meet your objectives.
2018 Course Dates Now Available On Our Website
Monday 01 January 2018 Workshop
Workshops across 2 days and the 1 day masterclass are available to book on our website: www.criticalappraisal.com For any bespoke events please email to discuss your requirements: office@criticalappraisal.com
Bespoke Critical Appraisal Workshop in Boston
Wednesday 06 December 2017 Workshop
Our return to Boston this month for a bespoke workshop was met with an attendance of over 120 delegates. The medical teams were taken through the knowledge and skills of critical appraisal over two intensive days. BostonA custom workbook with a range of exercises and clinical papers was used together with interactive digital handsets to quiz the audience.
Bespoke Critical Appraisal Training in Bulgaria
Friday 01 December 2017 Training | Bulgaria
Our latest bespoke training request took us to Bulgaria. Specialist Registrars and Consultants in microbiology, haematology, infectious diseases, all attended the one day critical appraisal course. The bespoke course handout we used included several excerpts from real clinical research papers. Our courses are intensive but we aim to be comprehensive and cover everything that delegates need to know in every course. We use practical exercises to break up the day and keep everybody attentive! The course was organised by a pharmaceutical company who invited Narinder in as a speaker for the masterclass.
Critical Appraisal Workshop at Kings Fund, London
Friday 24 November 2017 Workshop
A mixture of Haematology specialist registrars, consultants and laboratory scientists attended a critical appraisal workshop at Kings Fund, London. Generic clinical papers were critiqued by the group to identify key strengths and weaknesses of trial data in their specialist areas. This was an excellent interactive session and focused on upskilling the group as well as assisting those students preparing for final FRCPath exit exam. The course was organised by a pharmaceutical company who invited Narinder in as a speaker for the masterclass.
Critical Appraisal Skills Course in Grand Hyatt, Singapore
Tuesday 14 November 2017 Singapore | Training
Improving critical appraisal skills with the Medical Science Liaison teams. We've been working with a pharmaceutical company to design a course to improve critical appraisal skills amongst MSLs. The one day event took place in Singapore and over 120 delegates attended. We spent the day understanding the core knowledge and concepts used in appraising papers and then practised on randomised controlled trials and meta-analyses. Face-to-face teaching allows us to offer a more personalised experience to the delegates. We're more than happy to answer questions as they arise and check everyone's understanding regularly.
Critical Appraisal Training at the University Clinical Centre, Maribor
Tuesday 17 October 2017 Bespoke course | Training
Today we taught critical appraisal skills in Maribor to consultants and specialist registrars. The training was backed up with access to the Critical Appraisal Online Course. Bespoke courses are a cost-effective way of training groups of doctors - request your event today!
Training Course at the University Medical Center, Ljubljana
Wednesday 04 October 2017 Bespoke course | Training
Ljubljana was the venue for a training course this week for a pharmaceutical company. The full day event used the company's own publications to illustrate the key concepts in the critical appraisal of research papers. Our bespoke courses can be tailored to the exact requirements of the customer. For example, we are happy to replace our own teaching materials with company materials and sign confidentiality agreements. So if you are looking for bespoke training instead of a generic course, get in touch. Collaborate with us for the perfect training course!
A Critical Appraisal Session in Portugal
Wednesday 20 September 2017 Training
A critical appraisal session was conducted using some key clinical papers to upskill medical teams. Summaries of the strengths and weaknesses of all the trial data was produced to assist in highlighting the value of the data.
Critical Appraisal Workshop with the British Association of Pharmaceutical Physicians, London
Thursday 20 July 2017 Exam questions | United Kingdom | London
The Critical Appraisal Company ran a critical appraisal workshop this week in association with the British Association of Pharmaceutical Physicians (BrAPP) in London. The delegates were physicians working in the pharmaceutical industry and revising for the Diploma in Pharmaceutical Medicine examination. The exam is held by the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Medicine of the Royal College of Physicians of the United Kingdom and comprises of a mutiple-choice question paper and a critical appraisal paper. During this bespoke BrAPP course a review took place of knowledge and past paper questions to give everyone's revision a timely boost.
Critical Appraisal Skills in Madrid
Monday 12 June 2017 Bespoke course | Training
Today we taught critical appraisal skills in Madrid. Medical teams made up the audience for the half-day course. The training was backed up with access to the Critical Appraisal Online Course. Bespoke courses are a cost-effective way of training groups of doctors - request your event today!
Critical Appraisal Microbiology talk - London
Saturday 27 May 2017 Conference | Microbiology | London
Dr Narinder Gosall, one the course directors at The Critical Appraisal Company, gave a talk today on understanding research to the Microbiology consultants and specialist registrars at the Kings Fund.
Manchester Dental Critical Appraisal Training
Monday 22 May 2017 Bespoke course | Training | Manchester
A 2 day critical appraisal course was organised with orthodontists, restorative surgeons, paediatric dentists, public health dentists. A dental specific workbook was used for the teaching as well as a mixture of dental papers for the practical application.
Critical Appraisal workshop at University of Leeds
Wednesday 05 April 2017 Bespoke course | Dentistry | Leeds
We attended a workshop at Leeds dental hospital with orthodontists, restorative surgeons, paediatric dentists, public health dentists. The course was aimed at people sitting the dental ISFE consultant exams. A dental specific workbook was used for the teaching as well as a mixture of dental papers for the practical application.
Critical Appraisal Workshop Newcastle Dental Hospital
Tuesday 07 February 2017 Workshop | Training | Newcastle
Orthodontists, Restorative Surgeons: ISFE preparation We organised a critical appraisal workshop for trainees based around Newcastle. The course was attended by dental professionals including specialists in orthodontics, restorative dentistry and oral medicine. The seniority of the delegates ranged from those new to the specialty to those preparing for the ISFE exam. We used a bespoke course workbook to illustrate concepts using excerpts from real clinical papers and we tested the delegates throughout the day using wireless handsets. The interactive approach is key characteristic of our training courses and helps delegates stay involved and understand their own strengths and weaknesses.
New course dates in 2017 announced
Thursday 01 September 2016 Masterclass | United Kingdom | Website | Workshop
We are pleased to announce the dates for the Critical Appraisal Masterclasses and Workshops in 2017. The venue for all Masterclasses is the Crowne Plaza Manchester Airport.
The two day Critical Appraisal Workshop will take place at the Hilton London Metropole and Crowne Plaza Birmingham NEC.
Further dates may be added in response to demand. Reservations will be accepted six months in advance of each event. Please go to our website for further details.
Here are the 2017 dates:
Birmingham 2 day Workshop: 27 and 28th May 2017 - 22 and 23rd July 2017.
Birmingham 1 day Masterclass: 14th January 2017 - 4th March 2017 - 16th September 2017 - 11th November 2017
Manchester 1 day Masterclass: 25th March 2017 - 23rd September 2017
London 2 day Workshop: 11th and 12th Feb 2017 - 22 and 23rd April 2017 - 19 and 20 August 2017 - 21 and 22 October 2017 - 16 and 17th Dec 2017
All course dates will be available to book six months in advance.
Critical Appraisal Workshop - BRAPP Diploma in London
Thursday 21 July 2016 Pharmaceutical | United Kingdom | Workshop
The Critical Appraisal Company ran a critical appraisal workshop this week in association with the British Association of Pharmaceutical Physicians (BrAPP) in London. The delegates were physicians working in the pharmaceutical industry and revising for the Diploma in Pharmaceutical Medicine examination. The exam is held by the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Medicine of the Royal College of Physicians of the United Kingdom and comprises of a multiplechoice question paper and a critical appraisal paper. During this bespoke BrAPP course a review took place of knowledge and past paper questions to give everyone's revision a timely boost.
Good luck to everyone taking the exam!
Critical Appraisal Workshop for BRAPP, London
Thursday 21 July 2016
The Critical Appraisal Company ran a critical appraisal workshop this week in association with the British Association of Pharmaceutical Physicians (BrAPP) in London. The delegates were physicians working in the pharmaceutical industry and revising for the Diploma in Pharmaceutical Medicine examination. The exam is held by the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Medicine of the Royal College of Physicians of the United Kingdom and comprises of a mutiple-choice question paper and a critical appraisal paper. During this bespoke BrAPP course a review took place of knowledge and past paper questions to give everyone's revision a timely boost. Good luck to everyone taking the exam!
Improving Critical Appraisal skills in Luton
Tuesday 05 July 2016
Improving critical appraisal skills with the Medical Science Liaison teams We've been working with a pharmaceutical company to design a course to improve critical appraisal skills amongst MSLs. The one day event took place in Luton and over thirty delegates attended. We spent the day understanding the core knowledge and concepts used in appraising papers and then practised on randomised controlled trials and meta-analyses. Face-to-face teaching allows us to offer a more personalised experience to the delegates. We're more than happy to answer questions as they arise and check everyone's understanding regularly.
Bespoke Critical Appraisal Course at Kings College, London
Tuesday 28 June 2016
Oral surgeons from the London Deanery invited us to deliver a bespoke critical appraisal course as part of their ISFE training. The event took place today at the Kings College campus in Waterloo, London. Bespoke events can be tailored to the needs of the audience and this event was no exception. The ISFE exam includes a critical appraisal component which our course covered in one intensive day.
critical appraisal skills for ICU doctors in Runcorn
Friday 24 June 2016
Today we taught critical appraisal skills in Runcorn to ICU consultants and specialist registrars. Consultants and junior doctors made up the audience for the half-day course. The training was backed up with access to the Critical Appraisal Online Course. Bespoke courses are a cost-effective way of training groups of doctors - request your event today!
Critical Appraisal training course in Sofia, Bulgaria
Wednesday 22 June 2016
Sofia was the venue for a training course this week for a pharmaceutical company. The full day event used the company's own publications to illustrate the key concepts in the critical appraisal of research papers. Our bespoke courses can be tailored to the exact requirements of the customer. For example, we are happy to replace our own teaching materials with company materials and sign confidentiality agreements. We never reuse bespoke materials. So if you are looking for bespoke training instead of a generic course, get in touch. Collaborate with us for the perfect training course!
ISFE preparation for Orthodontists and Restorative Surgeons in London
Saturday 18 June 2016
We organised a critical appraisal workshop for Orthodontists based around London. The course was attended by dental professionals from the London Deanery, including specialists in orthodontics, restorative dentistry and oral medicine. The seniority of the delegates ranged from those new to the specialty to those preparing for the ISFE exam. We used a bespoke course workbook to illustrate concepts using excerpts from real clinical papers and we tested the delegates throughout the day using wireless handsets. The interactive approach is key characteristic of our training courses and helps delegates stay involved and understand their own strengths and weaknesses.
Critical Appraisal course meeting in Leicester
Friday 17 June 2016
Our latest bespoke training request took us to Leicester to the Marriot hotel. Specialist Registrars and Consultants in microbiology, haematology, infectious diseases, all attended the one day critical appraisal course. The bespoke course handout we used included several excerpts from real clinical research papers. Our courses are intensive but we aim to be comprehensive and cover everything that delegates need to know in every course. We use practical exercises to break up the day and keep everybody attentive! The course was organised by a pharmaceutical company who invited Narinder in as a speaker for the masterclass.
Bespoke critical appraisal training course at The Christie, Manchester
Tuesday 14 June 2016
This week we ran a bespoke critical appraisal skills training course for a group of oncology specialist nurses at The Christie, Manchester - the largest single site cancer centre in Europe treating more than 44,000 patients a year. As a centre of excellence, The Christie focuses on improving outcomes for oncology patients and that means applying the latest evidence that makes a difference to patients. The Critical Appraisal Company delivered a training event with the content tailored to the needs of the nurses.
Critical Appraisal Company talk at the Kings Fund, London
Friday 27 May 2016
Dr Narinder Gosall, one the course directors at The Critical Appraisal Company, gave a talk today on understanding research to the Microbiology consultants and specialist registrars at the Kings Fund. This was an excellent interactive session and focused on upskilling the group as well as assisting those students preparing for final FRCPath exit exam. The course was organised by a pharmaceutical company who invited Narinder in as a speaker for the masterclass.
Bespoke Critical Appraisal talk at the Kings Fund, London
Friday 27 May 2016 Bespoke course | Masterclass | Microbiology | United Kingdom
Dr Narinder Gosall, one the course directors at The Critical Appraisal Company, gave a talk today on understanding research to the Microbiology consultants and specialist registrars at the Kings Fund. This was an excellent interactive session and focused on upskilling the group as well as assisting those students preparing for final FRCPath exit exam. The course was organised by a pharmaceutical company who invited Narinder in as a speaker for the masterclass. The bespoke course handout we used included several excerpts from real clinical research papers. Our courses are intensive but we aim to be comprehensive and cover everything that delegates need to know in every course. We use practical exercises to break up the day and keep everybody attentive!
Yorkshire Haematology critical appraisal trainee group
Tuesday 24 May 2016
Last week a pharmaceutical company invited us to run a critical appraisal bespoke course for a group of Haematology specialist registrars in the Yorkshire Deanery. The event took place at Holiday Inn, Garforth, Leeds. Our one day masterclass led delegates were led through a bespoke workbook comprising of short exercises and clinical papers. The interactive nature of the course was enhanced with the use of digital handsets to test the audience.
Bespoke Critical Appraisal skills workshop,Dubai
Tuesday 24 May 2016
Our return to Dubai this month for a bespoke workshop was met with an attendance of over 250 delegates. The doctors and medical students were taken through the knowledge and skills of critical appraisal over two intensive days. A custom workbook with a range of exercises and clinical papers was used together with interactive digital handsets to quiz the audience.
Practical Critical Appraisal workshop in Cardiff, Gilead
Thursday 19 May 2016
University of Wales Hospital, Cardiff, Gilead: registrars in microbiology and infectious diseases. A practical workshop was arranged to critically appraise a selection of clinical papers with the group and focused on skill sets required for preparing for final FRCPath exit exam.
Critical Appraisal course at Manchester Dental hospital
Tuesday 17 May 2016
A 2 day critical appraisal course was organised with orthodontists, restorative surgeons, paediatric dentists, public health dentists. A dental specific workbook was used for the teaching as well as a mixture of dental papers for the practical application.
Critical Appraisal session for Napp Pharmaceutical Group Ltd
Friday 13 May 2016
A critical appraisal session was conducted using some key clinical papers to upskill sales teams. Summaries of the strengths and weaknesses of all the trial data was produced to assist in highlighting the value of the data.
2 day critical appraisal workshop Bristol Dental school
Wednesday 11 May 2016
We attended a 2 day workshop at Bristol dental hospital with orthodontists, restorative surgeons, paediatric dentists, public health dentists. The course was aimed at people sitting the dental ISFE consultant exams. A dental specific workbook was used for the teaching as well as a mixture of dental papers for the practical application.
Bespoke Critical Appraisal skills course in Slovenia
Thursday 28 April 2016 Bespoke course | Slovenia
Senior clinicians came together in Ljubljana, the beautiful capital city of Slovenia, for a bespoke critical appraisal skills course. Our one day event built on existing knowledge and skills using focused teaching sessions supplemented with practical work on excerpts from real clinical papers. There was a real positive vibe in the course as the clinicians improved with the carefully chosen exercises. We have a massive bank of exercises that we can call upon for our bespoke courses, which means every event we do is truly tailored to the needs of the audience. Our trip to Slovenia was all too brief; there is so much to discover in Europe but so little time!
Critical Appraisal workshop at Cork University Hospital
Saturday 16 April 2016
A mixture of Haematology specialist registrars, consultants and laboratory scientists attended a critical appraisal workshop at Cork University Hospital. Generic clinical papers selected by the consultants were critiqued by the group to identify key strengths and weaknesses of trial data in their specialist areas.
Clinical papers workbook updated
Tuesday 29 March 2016 Books | Workshop
The second edition (2016) of the clinical papers workbook has been published by The Critical Appraisal Company. The most obvious change is that the paper size has been reduced from A3 to A4 but there are also innovative changes inside based on our experience of teaching critical appraisal to delegates of all abilities. The greater use of colour and labels has allowed us to offer more content in less space. Important components of clinical papers are highlighted for reading and discussion during workshops. Based on feedback from delegates, an extra randomised controlled trial and an extra meta-analysis are now included to offer more practice of these important study designs. The new workbook has been trialled in recent events and has been received enthusiastically. It is important for us to know that our course materials are the best available anywhere. As before, the workbook is exclusively available to delegates attending the Critical Appraisal Workshop.
13th Critical Appraisal Workshop in Sydney announced
Thursday 24 March 2016 Australia | Website | Workshop
The Critical Appraisal Company is pleased to announce that the Critical Appraisal Workshop will take place in Sydney on Thursday 27 - Friday 28 October 2016. The two day course will take place in the luxurious setting of the Hilton Sydney located in the heart of the city. The price is the same as our London workshops and includes access to the Critical Appraisal Online Course, two workbooks and a copy of The Doctor's Guide to Critical Appraisal book which is posted as soon as a course reservation is made. Reservations are now being accepted. As this workshop always sells out, we are advising customers to book their place as soon as possible to avoid disappointment.
Critical appraisal training for SAS doctors in Milton Keynes
Monday 29 February 2016 Bespoke course | SAS doctors | United Kingdom
Last week we ran a critical appraisal bespoke course for a group of Staff Grades and Associate Specialists (SAS doctors) in the Oxford Deanery. The event took place at Kents Hill Park, an impressive purpose-built training and conference centre in Milton Keynes. The doctors worked in a variety of specialties and their existing critical appraisal skills and needs varied. Over two days delegates were led through an 84 page workbook comprising of short exercises and clinical papers. The interactive nature of the course was enhanced with the use of digital handsets to test the audience. All the delegates were provided with CPD certificates (12 points) for their revalidation portfolios, reflective practice templates and access to the Critical Appraisal Online Course to consolidate their learning. The excellent feedback comments included:
- Excellent course and day
- Very informative and useful
- Presenter was excellent
- Really brought the subject to life
- I was kept engaged all the way through (I thought this was going to be a dry subject)
- The slides, material, interactive nature and the knowledgeable, fantastic, excellent, brilliant presenter - Dr G Gosall
- Course material prepared very well
- Speakers presentation skills were excellent, particularly enjoyed the jokes
- Speaker was eloquent, knowledgeable and presented very well
- This course has heightened my interest in papers and research and I am excited to apply this new found knowledge to practice
- The content was relevant and well-delivered
- Every aspect was fantastic and brilliant
- Critical Appraisal was wonderful. It was taught in a very systematic and interesting way.
The tutor demonstrated knowledge and enthusiasm
Strongly disagree: 0
Disagree: 0
Neutral: 0
Agree: 0
Strongly agree: 24
The workshop materials helped me to learn (workbook, interactive handset)
Strongly disagree: 0
Disagree: 0
Neutral: 0
Agree: 4
Strongly agree: 20
I have improved my knowledge and understanding of how to appraise a research paper
Strongly disagree: 0
Disagree: 0
Neutral: 0
Agree: 8
Strongly agree: 16
Please rate your overall satisfaction with this workshop
Very dissatisfied: 0
Dissatisfied: 0
Satisfied: 3
Very satisfied: 21
Training healthcare professionals in the Ministry of Health in UAE
Thursday 21 January 2016 Bespoke course | United Arab Emirates
This week we delivered a two day workshop on critical appraisal skills to the Ministry of Health UAE in the new Training and Development Centre in Sharjah, which is the third largest city (after Dubai and Abu Dhabi) in the United Arab Emirates. Delegates came from a variety of professional backgrounds but everyone had the common goal of wanting to improve their confidence reading clinical research papers. The event was interactive, with delegates completing a range of exercises to put their improved knowledge and skills to the test. Great hospitality by the organisers including al fresco dining in the sunny outdoors meant everyone was well looked after and could concentrate on the learning. Delegates left the course having covered a large amount of material and having definitely earned their CPD certificates.
Critical Appraisal short exercises workbook updated
Thursday 07 January 2016 Books | Masterclass | Workshop
It's a new year and time for an update of the short exercises workbook we use in our Masterclass and Workshop events. We make extensive use of our materials and use the feedback gathered from delegates to make improvements. Sometimes we need to make an exercise clearer; sometimes we need to write a new exercise to illustrate a concept better. Every exercise in the workbook has a purpose and has to earn its place! There's no room for duplication or boring exercises! This latest edition of the workbook will be used in all our Masterclass and Workshop events in 2016. A bigger update of the clinical papers workbook is due in spring.
Bespoke Critical Appraisal Dubai workshop is the largest ever
Monday 21 December 2015 Bespoke course | Medical students | United Arab Emirates
Our return to Dubai this month for a bespoke workshop was met with a record breaking attendance of over 250 delegates. We're happy to teach groups large and small and this was a large group! Indeed over the years we've developed a range of teaching approaches that help to keep everyone engaged. The doctors and medical students were taken through the knowledge and skills of critical appraisal over two intensive days. A custom workbook with a range of exercises and clinical papers was used together with interactive digital handsets to quiz the audience. The large group of medical students in attendance was an encouraging sign that the skill of understanding evidence was being prioritised in the medical school curriculum. We've been asked to return to Dubai in 2016 for three workshops and one of the events will be for medical students only.
Critical appraisal talk at Cambridge University
Monday 26 October 2015 Free | United Kingdom
Dr Gurpal S. Gosall, one the course directors at The Critical Appraisal Company, gave a talk today on understanding research to the Medical and Veterinary Society at Girton College, Cambridge. Dr Gosall was himself a student at the university many years ago so it was also a trip down memory lane for him. Walking around the beautiful college grounds and chatting to current students is enough to make anyone contemplate heading back to university to do some more studying!
Our critical appraisal courses are now approved for CPD
Monday 19 October 2015 CPD | Masterclass | Online course | Workshop
The Critical Appraisal Online Course, Critical Appraisal Masterclass and Critical Appraisal Workshop have been approved for continuing professional development (CPD) by The CPD Standards Office. This independent accreditation demonstrates that the learning activities offered by The Critical Appraisal Company conform to CPD best practice and are appropriate for inclusion in a formal CPD record. Delegates attending our Masterclass and Workshop events will be given snazzy new CPD certificates of attendance at the end of the events (6 hours for the Masterclass, 12 hours for the Workshop). Subscribers to the Critical Appraisal Online Course will be sent the certificates by email (6 hours).
Continuing professional development (CPD) is expected of most healthcare professionals. Guidelines for CPD have been issued by regulators.
- General Medical Council
- General Dental Council
- Nurses and Midwives Council
- General Optical Council
- General Pharmaceutical Council
- Health and Care Professions Council
Licensed doctors have to revalidate every 5 years and must provide evidence they have engaged in CPD. Specific CPD requirements are largely determined by the relevant Medical Royal Colleges.
- Royal College of Anaesthetists
- Royal College of Emergency Medicine
- Royal College of General Practitioners
- Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists
- Royal College of Ophthalmologists
- Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health
- Royal College of Pathologists
- Royal College of Physicians
- Royal College of Psychiatrists
- Royal College of Radiologists
- Royal College of Surgeons
- Faculty of Dental Surgery
- Faculty of Occupational Medicine
- Faculty of Pharmaceutical Medicine
- Faculty of Public Health
With our CPD accreditation, there's now one more reason to train with us! Click to compare our courses!
New Critical Appraisal Masterclass course dates in 2016 announced
Tuesday 01 September 2015 Masterclass | Website | Workshop
The Critical Appraisal Masterclass will take place twice in Manchester on 12 March and 24 September 2016. The Critical Appraisal Workshop will take place in London on 27-28 February, 9-10 April, 11-12 June, 13-14 August, 22-23 October and 10-11 December 2016, and in Birmingham on 30-31 January, 14-15 May, 16-17 July, 17-18 September and 12-13 November 2016. All course dates will be available to book six months in advance.
Critical Appraisal study for dentists in Sheffield
Friday 19 June 2015 Bespoke course | Dentistry | United Kingdom
Health Education Yorkshire and the Humber funded a critical appraisal study day for dentists in Sheffield this week. The course was attended by dental professionals from Sheffield, Leeds, Birmingham and Liverpool, including specialists in orthodontics, restorative dentistry and oral medicine. The seniority of the delegates ranged from those new to the specialty to those preparing for the ISFE exam. We used a bespoke course workbook to illustrate concepts using excerpts from real clinical papers and we tested the delegates throughout the day using wireless handsets. The interactive approach is key characteristic of our training courses and helps delegates stay involved and understand their own strengths and weaknesses.
Multidisciplinary critical appraisalteaching in Birmingham
Thursday 11 June 2015 Bespoke course | Emergency medicine / ICU | Haematology | Microbiology
It was back to Birmingham today for another bespoke training session. Doctors, pharmacists and clinical laboratory staff from all over the country were brought together for a medical training day. Specialties represented included ICU, anaesthesia, haematology and microbiology. With more and more evidence published every year and increasing patient expectations, being able to identify the strengths and weaknesses of research is a skill every healthcare professional should master. The core knowledge is generic and applicable to research in every clinical specialty and profession. It’s only at the end of a critical appraisal when the discussion turns to clinical significance and the impact on patients that specialist knowledge about the current state of play is valuable. To underline the educational importance of the training, the event was accredited for CPD by the Royal College of Physicians.
Bespoke Critical Appraisal courses in Birmingham and London
Friday 05 June 2015 Bespoke course | Emergency medicine / ICU | Haematology | United Kingdom
This week The Critical Appraisal Company delivered two bespoke courses. First we ran a one day course for a group of ICU doctors in Birmingham. The next day we ran an evening meeting for a group of haematologists in London. Our bespoke critical appraisal courses are easy to organise and allow large numbers of doctors to be trained in the workplace. No time is spent travelling to a conference venue and study leave budgets are saved. We’re also flexible on the timing of the course. For example, we were happy to run an evening meeting so more doctors could attend after a normal working day. With all these benefits, it’s no wonder that our bespoke course service is an increasingly popular choice for groups of doctors.
Non-clinical skills training - Specialist Registrars in London
Thursday 28 May 2015 Bespoke course | United Kingdom
Today we’ve been training doctors in a meeting at the Royal College of Surgeons, London. The training day for the Specialist Registrars is a regular event and aims to support their further development, enhancing non-clinical skills which are required to take leading roles in their speciality. Doctors need to keep their knowledge up-to-date and that means regularly reading and critically appraising journal articles so that their patients receive evidence-based care. The critical appraisal teaching session lasted half a day and included an overview of the key knowledge and skills needed to effectively appraise research articles. The time available to keep up with the research literature is always in short supply but hopefully our session will make reading papers a less arduous process.
Critical Appraisal Workshop returns to Dubai
Thursday 14 May 2015 Bespoke course | United Arab Emirates
The Critical Appraisal Workshop took place in Dubai, UAE, earlier this week. The event was attended by doctors of all grades from many clinical areas. The knowledge and skills of critical appraisal were taught on the first day using excerpts from clinical research papers before the focus moved to appraising complete clinical papers on the second day. As with all our events, the format of the workshop was interactive with many exercises and questions for the doctors to answer. For many in the audience, it was their first course on evidence-based medicine and many took the opportunity to clarify concepts and discuss their research projects with the tutor. The overall aim was to inspire and motivate everyone to read research papers to keep knowledge and skills up-to-date! Hopefully we succeeded!
Critical Appraisal Company - The enduring power of testimonials
Thursday 07 May 2015 Website
As any successful company knows, word-of-mouth recommendations are the best form of advertising! We are grateful that many people study our critical appraisal courses following recommendations from colleagues. It reassures us that we're delivering what our customers want. How do other people decide? If you don't know anyone who has attended a course, how do you decide whether to attend? Many websites contain customer testimonials but therein lies a problem - can you trust the testimonials? It takes literally seconds to type a few favourable comments! This problem of trust is something we've tackled on this website by showing handwritten testimonials - and not just a few selective ones either! On the Critical Appraisal Masterclass and Critical Appraisal Workshop pages, you can read hundreds of original testimonials from our satisified customers, all collected anonymously at the end of classroom events. We hope they illustrate why we have a reputation for the best critical appraisal skills training courses! Now that's something to shout about!
Updated Critical Appraisal Company website design introduced
Wednesday 06 May 2015 Website
The criticalappraisal.com website has been given a makeover! The new logo is now in use throughout the site but the biggest change is behind the scenes. The new responsive design caters to the increasing number of people browsing on mobile phones and tablets. Pages automatically adjust to the size and orientation of smaller screens so that the text always remains readable. People browsing using high resolution display devices, such as the latest iPads and laptops, will also notice that the text and images on the website appear sharper. We've also taken the opportunity to review the infomation on the website. Pages are more concise and more tables and colour are used to break up longer pages. Taken together, we hope these changes make browsing the website an even better experience! Feedback is welcome via our helpdesk - get in touch!
Evidence-based medicine critical appraisal course in Plymouth
Wednesday 29 April 2015 Bespoke course | United Kingdom
Our latest bespoke training request took us to Plymouth on the south coast of Devon this week. Specialist Registrars and Consultants in microbiology, surgery, medicine and radiology attended the one day critical appraisal course. The bespoke course handout we used included several excerpts from real clinical research papers. Our courses are intensive but we aim to be comprehensive and cover everything that delegates need to know in every course. We use practical exercises to break up the day and keep everybody attentive!
Revealed - new logo for the critical appraisal website
Tuesday 28 April 2015 Website
A refresh of the criticalappraisal.com website will be launched later this week. Included in the update is a brand new logo which we can reveal to you today! This exclusive design will be progressively rolled out across our website, social media outlets and course materials over the next few days.
Critical Appraisal Pharma training in Switzerland
Friday 24 April 2015 Bespoke course | Pharmaceutical | Switzerland
Located where the Swiss, French and German borders meet, Basel in Switzerland was the venue for a training course this week for a pharmaceutical company. The full day event used the company's own publications to illustrate the key concepts in the critical appraisal of research papers. Our bespoke courses can be tailored to the exact requirements of the customer. For example, we are happy to replace our own teaching materials with company materials and sign confidentiality agreements. We never reuse bespoke materials. So if you are looking for bespoke training instead of a generic course, get in touch. Collaborate with us for the perfect training course!
Critical appraisal training for oncologists in Manchester
Friday 27 March 2015 Bespoke course | Oncology and palliative care
This week we ran a bespoke critical appraisal skills training course for a group of oncology specialist registrars at The Christie, Manchester - the largest single site cancer centre in Europe treating more than 44,000 patients a year. As a centre of excellence, The Christie focuses on improving outcomes for oncology patients and that means applying the latest evidence that makes a difference to patients. The Critical Appraisal Company delivered a training event with the content tailored to the needs of oncologists. This is a great benefit of our bespoke events - the clinical papers used to practice the knowledge and skills of critical appraisal can be selected by the course organiser, so that the course is more relevant to the needs of the audience. We can work with papers from any clinical specialty so get in touch to order your own course!
Critical Appraisal training in Trinity College, Dublin
Friday 13 March 2015 Bespoke course | Exam questions | Ireland
This week we returned to teach at Trinity College in Dublin, Ireland. This is the fourth year we have been involved with the MSc in Healthcare Infection Management. The MSc students included Consultants, junior doctors and nurses. The half-day event was an overview of the key steps in critically appraising research papers. We were also asked to submit questions for the course exam - good luck to all the students!
Doctors in Dublin receive training in critical appraisal skills
Wednesday 11 March 2015 Bespoke course | Haematology | Ireland | Microbiology
Immediately after our event in Belfast we were on a train to Dublin to train Specialist Registrars and newly appointed Consultants specialising in microbiology and haematology. The training event took place at the William Stokes Postgraduate Centre at St James's Hospital, Dublin. The key steps in appraising a journal article were taught and the delegates had the option of consolidating their learning by viewing the online course.
Bespoke critical appraisal training in Belfast
Tuesday 10 March 2015 Bespoke course | Haematology | Microbiology
Today we taught critical appraisal skills in Belfast at the Royal Victoria Hospital, one of four linked hospitals that makes up Northern Ireland's biggest and best known hospitals complex. Almost two thirds of the Northern Ireland population live within 40 minutes travel of the 70 acre site which is situated close to Belfast city centre. Consultants and junior doctors working in the microbiology and haematology departments made up the audience for the half-day course. The training was backed up with access to the Critical Appraisal Online Course. Bespoke courses are a cost-effective way of training groups of doctors - request your event today!
Critical appraisal skills training at the Royal College of Surgeons
Thursday 26 February 2015 Bespoke course | Dentistry | Surgery
The Faculty of Dental Surgery at the Royal College of Surgeons invited us to deliver a bespoke critical appraisal course as part of an ISFE training event for orthodontists, restorative dentists and paediatric dentists. The event took place today at the historic Lincoln's Inn Field site. Bespoke events can be tailored to the needs of the audience and this event was no exception. The ISFE exam includes a critical appraisal component which our course covered in one intensive day. The event is already scheduled to be repeated in 2016!
New edition of The Doctor’s Guide to Critical Appraisal
Friday 20 February 2015 Books
Today sees the publication of the 4th edition of The Doctor's Guide to Critical Appraisal! First published in 2006, each new edition has seen the book expanded and this latest edition is no exception. The book is now over 300 pages long and includes everything you need to appraise clinical papers with confidence. The unique structure has been refined to make learning even easier. There are more clinical scenarios and figures to explain difficult concepts. New in this edition are over 70 excerpts from real clinical papers. We're including the book free with every reservation on the Critical Appraisal Masterclass and Critical Appraisal Workshop. The book is available now at all good bookshops. Order your copy today!
The Doctor's Guide to Critical Appraisal - 4th edition, 2015
by Narinder Gosall and Gurpal Gosall
Published by PasTest - ISBN-10 1905635974 ISBN-13 978-1905635979
View on Amazon.co.uk | Pastest
Evidence-based dentistry critical appraisal course in London
Friday 23 January 2015 Bespoke course | Dentistry
This week we had a follow-up appointment at the Royal London Hospital with another bespoke workshop for a group of 17 dentists. The event was requested and expertly organised by a Specialist Registrar in Orthodontics and ran very smoothly. Dental research papers were used for practice and were selected to cover the various specialties of the delegates. Feedback comments included: "Speaker was brilliant, logical, not condescending, happy to give her lunch hour for us, thank you so much, fantastic teacher and great exam prep" and "I really enjoyed the course and feel much more confident critically appraising papers." Thanks to everyone for contributing to a successful event and good luck to everyone taking an exam!
New Critical Appraisal Course for MRCPsych Paper B
Thursday 22 January 2015 Psychiatry
In recognition of the question format in the new MRCPsych Paper B exam of the Royal College of Psychiatrists, our parent company Superego Cafe is running a special course on 21-22 March 2015 and 12-13 September 2015 for psychiatrists in training. The teaching is based around multiple choice questions and extended matching item questions. This special course can be booked on the Superego Cafe website - click here to go to the course page for more details.
Boosting critical appraisal knowledge and skills in Yorkshire
Wednesday 14 January 2015 Bespoke course | Dentistry
This week we've been running a bespoke critical appraisal workshop for dentists in Yorkshire, supported by Health Education Yorkshire and the Humber. The venue was Tankersley Manor in Barnsley, a former 17th century residence with many of the original features retained including exposed wooden beams and Yorkshire stone windowsills. A modern edge has been created with the addition of a purpose built conference centre. The two days event covered the entire subject from start to finish. As it was a bespoke event, dental research papers were used for practice and to illustrate key concepts. This is the advantage of bespoke events - the agenda can be tailored to the exact requirements of the audience. One of the feedback comments sums it all up: "The practical aspect of actually appraising the journals ourselves was very useful as it made us apply the theory we had learnt. The speaker was amazing, easy to understand and made such a difficult subject interesting and enjoyable. Would thoroughly recommend this course."
Critical Appraisal Masterclass and Workshop dates in 2015 announced
Tuesday 23 September 2014 Masterclass | Website | Workshop
We are pleased to announce the dates for the Critical Appraisal Masterclasses and Workshops in 2015. The one day Critical Appraisal Masterclass will take place on 14 March, 20 June and 26 September 2015. The venue for all Masterclasses is the Crowne Plaza Manchester Airport. The two days Critical Appraisal Workshop will take place at the Hilton London Metropole (28 February - 1 March, 18-19 April, 13-14 June, 15-16 August, 10-11 October and 12-13 December 2015) and Crowne Plaza Birmingham NEC (31 January - 1 February, 16-17 May, 11-12 July, 12-13 September and 14-15 November 2015). Further dates may be added in response to demand. Reservations will be accepted six month in advance of each event.
Critical Appraisal training in Doncaster
Friday 19 September 2014 Bespoke course | Psychiatry | United Kingdom
Today we finished the last of four bespoke training days for mental health professionals in the Rotherham Doncaster and South Humber NHS Foundation Trust (RDaSH). The venue was St Catherine's House, a grade II listed Victorian building set in beautiful grounds. It was originally built in 1838 as the home for the Banks family. The family sold it to the Ministry of Health in 1930 when it was turned into a 'mental institution'. Today it has a number of uses, including providing conference facilities. The training days were attended by a mix of healthcare professionals, including psychiatrists, psychologists, nurses, and occupational therapists. Most delegates were attending the critical appraisal training for professional development but there were also people involved with research and revising for exams. On each day we went through appraising the methods and results of clinical papers, to better understand how to identify the strengths and weaknesses of research. All the delegates received access to the Critical Appraisal Online Course to consolidate their learning and a CPD certificate for moving their practice forward.
11th Critical Appraisal Workshop in Sydney in October 2014
Wednesday 27 August 2014 Australia | Workshop
Following the sold-out success of last year, the Critical Appraisal Workshop returns to Sydney on 25-26 October 2014. This is the eleventh time the workshop has taken place in Australia, a reflection of its enduring popularity! The venue is again the InterContinental, a fabulous hotel located a short walk from the harbour. We'll be using our latest teaching materials, including our short exercises workbook and clinical papers workbook. Delegates will also be given instant access to the Critical Appraisal Online Course and a copy of the award-winning book, The Doctor's Guide to Critical Appraisal, is posted as soon as a place is reserved. This comprehensive 'blended learning' package offers delegates the best training in critical appraisal knowledge and skills available. There are strictly limited places available on the workshop so customers are encouraged to reserve their places as soon as possible to avoid disappointment. Click here to reserve a place.
Critical appraisal training for dentists in Bristol and Glasgow
Tuesday 26 August 2014 Bespoke course | Dentistry
This month we've been to dental schools in Bristol and Glasgow to deliver critical appraisal knowledge and skills training to dental professionals for both professional development and ISFE exam preparation. Both workshops included practice sessions on a range of dental research papers. In bespoke events we work with organisers to include learning materials that are highly relevant to the clinical practice of the audience. Over the last couple of years we have worked with a large number of dentists across all the major dental schools and we understand their needs, particularly the material required to pass the tough ISFE! Thanks to everyone for the hospitality given to our tutor and to everyone taking the ISFE - good luck!
Critical Appraisal - working with BRAPP
Friday 01 August 2014 Bespoke course | Pharmaceutical
The Critical Appraisal Company ran a critical appraisal workshop this week in association with the British Association of Pharmaceutical Physicians (BrAPP) in London. The delegates were physicians working in the pharmaceutical industry and revising for the Diploma in Pharmaceutical Medicine examination. The exam is held by the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Medicine of the Royal College of Physicians of the United Kingdom and comprises of a mutiple-choice question paper and a critical appraisal paper. During this bespoke BrAPP course a review took place of knowledge and past paper questions to give everyone's revision a timely boost. Good luck to everyone taking the exam!
Writing questions for critical appraisal exams
Tuesday 15 July 2014 Exam questions
Writing questions for critical appraisal exams requires a detailed knowledge of critical appraisal knowledge and concepts. As a leading provider of training in this field, we've been approached a few times to help write exam questions and provide model answers. This has been a thoroughly enjoyable task (!) and also given us an invaluable insight into the precision with which exam candidates must write their answers. Writing questions requires clarity of thought to avoid ambiguity and an eye for detail. If you're interested in commissioning us to write exam questions, get in touch. Confidentiality is assured.
Critical appraisal training in California
Wednesday 18 June 2014 Bespoke course | Pharmaceutical | United States
Today in San Francisco we delivered a training session on critical appraisal skills to delegates working in a major pharmaceutical company. As well as going over key concepts, delegates were taken through real research papers to put their skills into practice. Adopting an interactive approach is important as it helps to illustrate what can otherwise be difficult-to-grasp concepts. We produced a bespoke course booklet for this event which contained a range of short exercises to supplement the clinical papers. It was a short visit to sunny California but it was great to see the confidence in the room improve as the session progressed.
Critical Appraisal’s exclusive book offer!
Thursday 12 June 2014 Free | Online course
Hosts Brazil open the 2014 FIFA World Cup today against Croatia, marking the start of a month of thrills and spills for all soccer fans. Here at The Critical Appraisal Company we're launching a great offer to mark the start of the tournament. All one month and six months subscriptions to the Critical Appraisal Online Course will be packaged with a copy of the award-winning book, The Doctor's Guide to Critical Appraisal, 3rd edition, worth £23! Delivery to any address worldwide is included. This amazing offer expires on 13 July 2014. Don't delay - subscribe today!
Evidence-based clinical research medicine in Barcelona
Thursday 29 May 2014 Bespoke course | Pharmaceutical | Spain
This week we were in Barcelona delivering training to a pharmaceutical company. This request followed a similar meeting for the same company in another country. Word-of-mouth recommendations are not just limited to our Masterclasses and Workshops - our bespoke events are also recommended widely! As with all our bespoke events, the agenda for the meeting was specifically focused on the needs of the delegates. Organising the bespoke event was by email and telephone conferences and it only took a matter of days before the event details were finalised. It was great to meet the delegates and improve their confidence reading clinical research papers.
Critical Appraisal in Athens
Friday 04 April 2014 Bespoke course | Greece
We do get around a bit! This month one of our meetings was in Athens, Greece. The City of the Gods is also home to a number of companies involved with healthcare research. The Critical Appraisal Company was commissioned at short notice to provide training in understanding research and improving research. We developed a set of training materials to teach critical appraisal in our unique style and the meeting went very well! We had just enough time to have a quick look at the iconic pillars of the Parthenon before we flew home. A city everyone should visit!
Critical Appraisal Teaching at Trinity College, Dublin
Tuesday 18 March 2014 Bespoke course | Exam questions | Ireland
We were honoured to be asked again to teach critical appraisal to Clinical Microbiology MSc students in Healthcare Infection Management at Trinity College, Dublin. During our teaching session we went over key steps in appraising research papers and illustrated critical appraisal techniques using a paper on guidelines and a meta-analysis. Delegates were given access to the Critical Appraisal Online Course after the teaching. We also asked to contribute questions for the course exam - good luck everyone!
Critical Appraisal appointment at the Royal London Hospital
Wednesday 05 February 2014 Bespoke course | Dentistry
We've just spent two days at the Royal London Hospital, thankfully as tutors rather than as patients! The Royal London Hospital was founded in 1740 and is now part of Barts Health NHS Trust. The hospital serves people living in the London Borough of Tower Hamlets. Patients have free NHS access to some of the best clinicians in the country. We were invited to teach a group of professionals specialising in oral medicine, a tough specialty with tough exams! Our bespoke course was intense and a lot of ground was covered, as one would expect in an academic centre. The agenda for bespoke events is agreed with the course organiser and we aim to please! As well as workbooks, delegates were given access to the Critical Appraisal Online Course and a copy of the award-winning book, The Doctor's Guide to Critical Appraisal.
Beginning the new year with critical appraisal skills in Belgium
Tuesday 28 January 2014 Belgium | Bespoke course
After the festive break it was straight back to work for the team. We've been working with a pharmaceutical company to design a course to improve critical appraisal skills amongst senior employees. The one day event took place in Belgium and over fifty delegates attended. We spent the day understanding the core knowledge and concepts used in appraising papers and then practised on randomised controlled trials and meta-analyses. Face-to-face teaching allows us to offer a more personalised experience to the delegates. We're more than happy to answer questions as they arise and check everyone's understanding regularly. As a result we got excellent feedback from the workshop, with delegates starting the year with improved confidence in reading clinical papers. Job done!
Critical appraisal training event in Hong Kong
Monday 27 January 2014 Hong Kong | Workshop
The Critical Appraisal Workshop returns to Hong Kong on 12-13 April 2014. The venue is the Rennaisance Harbour View Hotel, a 5-star hotel situated on the waterfront, adjacent to the HKCEC. This conference is open to all healthcare professionals who want to read clinical papers with more confidence, including doctors, dentists, nurses, pharmacists, students and researchers. The two day training event is our most comprehensive event. Delegates are guided through all the knowledge and skills they need to read clinical research papers with confidence. The course materials include the award-winning book, The Doctor's Guide to Critical Appraisal, an A4-sized workbook of short exercises and an A3-sized workbook of clinical papers. Due to the workshop format, places on this event are strictly limited and early reservations are recommended.
Improving critical appraisal skills with MSLA
Wednesday 27 November 2013 Bespoke course | Pharmaceutical
The aims of the Medical Science Liaison Association (MSLA) are to provide a common platform in the UK to drive compliance value, credibility and sustainability of the Medical and Scientific Liaison (MSL) role in the pharmaceutical industry. The MSLA launched "How to…" educational seminars in 2012 , a series designed to enhance and add value to the MSL function. Members were surveyed to identify topics which are of most interest to the field medical community and the seminars kicked off with a "How to Critically Appraise a Clinical Paper / Statistics" day in 2012. In November 2013 The Critical Appraisal Company returned to deliver another day on improving critical appraisal skills. The training was supplemented by every delegates receiving access to the Critical Appraisal Online Course and a copy of The Doctor's Guide to Critical Appraisal.
Time to refresh Critical Appraisal research skills in Zurich
Wednesday 20 November 2013 Bespoke course | Pharmaceutical | Switzerland
Today The Critical Appraisal Company was in Zurich, Switzerland, delivering a critical skills training update to senior managers of a pharmaceutical company. Critical appraisal is a vast topic area and it's important to revisit even basic concepts regularly in order to not overlook areas where weaknesses in research methodology may arise. Indeed it's only by being constantly challenged that we all can recognise areas where we need to improve. The format of the training update was interactive, with questions being posed on a range of topics. Examples of strengths and weaknesses were gleaned from a range of clinical papers.
Improving critical appraisal skills in Dubai
Thursday 14 November 2013 Bespoke course | United Arab Emirates
The Critical Appraisal Company returned to Dubai this week to deliver another two day workshop for healthcare professionals. These regular workshops have been very popular in Dubai. 170 delegates took part in the latest training event. A custom workbook based on our latest course materials was used to teach the knowledge and skills of critical appraisal. Interactive handsets were used to test the delegates and ensure understanding. The feedback was excellent. A further two workshops in 2014 are planned.
2014 dates announced for the Critical Appraisal Workshop
Wednesday 13 November 2013 Website | Workshop
The Critical Appraisal Workshop is our most comprehensive critical appraisal training event. The workshop lasts two days and covers everything you need to read clinical papers with confidence. Compared to the one day Critical Appraisal Masterclass, more time is available in the workshop for practical work, including appraising real clinical papers. The workshop is popular amongst people who want to improve their critical appraisal knowledge, practice their new skills on published research and learn how to speed read clinical papers. In 2014 the workshop will take place in London (1-2 March, 10-11 May, 19-20 July, 16-17 August, 11-12 October, 13-14 December), Birmingham (5-6 April, 21-22 June, 13-14 September), Manchester (25-26 January) and Glasgow (8-9 November). Places can be reserved on the workshops up to six months in advance.
Updating critical appraisal skills in Bangkok
Tuesday 05 November 2013 Bespoke course | Pharmaceutical | Thailand
The capital city of Thailand was the location today for a critical appraisal skills update session we ran for a major pharmaceutical company. An overview of the steps involved in appraising research papers was followed by an interactive session discussing the strengths and weaknesses of randomised controlled trials and observational trials using a question-and-answer format. Observational interventional trials are prone to a wide range of weaknesses compared to gold standard randomised controlled trials but they provide real world data on the comparative effectiveness of different interventions and can add to the evidence base. There was just enough time to sample the culinary delights of Bangkok before heading home to England!
Critical Appraisal ‘Key Steps’ lecture in London
Thursday 31 October 2013 Bespoke course | Conference | Dentistry
Today Dr Gurpal S. Gosall from The Critical Appraisal Company spoke at the 'Improving Outcomes in Restorative Dentistry' conference at the Royal College of Physicians, London. This was a joint meeting of The British Society for Restorative Dentistry, The Association of Consultants and Specialists in Restorative Dentistry, The Specialist Registrars in Restorative Dentistry Group (SSRDG) and The British Association of Teachers of Conservative Dentistry. We were invited by the SSRDG to give a short talk on the key steps in appraising clinical papers. In 45 minutes the delegates were given a whirlwind tour of critical appraisal topics in Dr Gosall's unique style. We hope everyone enjoyed the talk and thanks for the invite!
Evaluating Critical Appraisal research evidence in Abu Dhabi
Tuesday 22 October 2013 Bespoke course | Pharmaceutical | United Arab Emirates
The Critical Appraisal Company delivered an interactive training session on critically appraising research articles in Abu Dhabi today. We were invited to give a summary of how to read a paper and then take the delegates through appraisals of two research papers. The interactive element of the presentation was fast and furious, with delegates quizzed intensively on research methods and statistics by two members of our team. The feedback was excellent, with delegates appreciating having their knowledge refreshed and being challenged on a range of research topics.
Critical appraisal lecture tour continues in Sydney
Sunday 20 October 2013 Australia | Bespoke course | Workshop
After a short flight from our training event in Brisbane, The Critical Appraisal Company landed in Sydney. A one day course was held for employees of the National Prescribing Service followed by a one day course for the Red Cross Blood Service. The weekend was spent at the InterContinental Sydney where we ran our 10th Critical Appraisal Workshop over two days. It's been an exhausting but exhilarating week! It always gives us immense satisfaction to see people understanding the language of critical appraisal and applying their skills on short exercises and clinical papers. This was the first time we used our new short exercises workbook and clinical papers workbook in Australia and the feedback comments were excellent! We're already planning our next workshop in Sydney in 2014. Enquiries are welcome for bespoke courses.
Critical appraisal training event in Brisbane
Wednesday 16 October 2013 Australia | Bespoke course
The Critical Appraisal Company ran a bespoke critical appraisal training event today for the Red Cross Blood Service in Brisbane in Queensland, Australia. The event was a follow-up to the successful workshop held two years ago in Melbourne. Delegates were guided through the knowledge and skills of critical appraisal in a one day course that lasted six hours. After the event all the delegates were given complimentary access to the Critical Appraisal Online Course to help them consolidate their learning. This Red Cross event is to be repeated later this week in Sydney.
Evidence-based Critical Appraisal medicine training
Tuesday 15 October 2013 Bespoke course
It's not just clinicians who benefit from the training we offer. This week we gave a talk to a group of commissioners in Birmingham about how to evaluate clinical evidence. Commissioners are in the unenviable position of having to decide which services to fund with a finite set of resources at their disposal. It is important that they are not swayed by evidence which is of poor quality or is misleading in some way. We guided the group on how to take a step-by-step approach to appraising research papers. It was a short but hopefully useful session that showed that there's more to reading a research paper than scanning the abstract.
2014 dates announced for the Critical Appraisal Masterclass
Tuesday 08 October 2013 Masterclass | Website
The Critical Appraisal Masterclass covers everything you need to appraise clinical papers in one intensive day. The course workbook includes many short exercises to improve your understanding of critical appraisal. The course is popular amongst people revising for critical appraisal exams, presenting in journal club meetings, starting research projects and preparing for job interviews. We are pleased to announce that in 2014 the Critical Appraisal Masterclass will take place on 15 March, 31 May and 27 September. All events take place at the Crowne Plaza Manchester Airport. Reservations are now being taken!
Free critical appraisal training event in Burnley, Lancashire
Friday 04 October 2013 Bespoke course | Free
The Mackenzie Healthcare Library at Burnley General Hospital, Lancashire, hosted a critical appraisal training event today led by Dr Gurpal S. Gosall of The Critical Appraisal Company. Dr Gosall works in the neighbouring Lancashire Care NHS Foundation Trust as a Consultant Psychiatrist and this was the second time the event had been held in Burnley. This free event was attended by 70 healthcare professionals including doctors, nurses, occupational therapists, physiotherapists and medical librarians. Over an intensive seven hours, the delegates were guided through critical appraisal topics. Slides, interactive handset technology and exercises in the course handout were used to keep everyone stimulated and learning throughout the day. All the delegates will receive a complimentary one month subscription to the Critical Appraisal Online Course to help them consolidate their new knowledge and skills.
Critical appraisal for pharmaceutical physicians in London
Monday 23 September 2013 Bespoke course | Pharmaceutical
In association with The Critical Appraisal Company, the British Association of Pharmaceutical Physicians (BrAPP) ran a critical appraisal workshop at the Royal College of Pathologists, London. Everything pharmaceutical physicians do in the pharmaceutical industry is based upon evidence. Pharmaceutical physicians are involved in the development of clinical trial programmes, in ensuring that research is conducted to the highest standards of GLP, GCP and GMP and in the review and interpretation of numerous studies conducted with medicines, devices and new treatment interventions to ensure ever improving standards of healthcare. It is therefore of vital importance that pharmaceutical physicians are competent in the process of critical appraisal throughout their careers in pharmaceutical medicine as they review clinical trial protocols and plans, evaluate pharmacovigilance reports, prepare regulatory submissions to relevant authorities, prepare/advise on NICE submissions, advise colleagues and clinicians in the appropriate use of medicines and devices, approve promotional copy, shape stakeholder training programmes and advise on the review and preparation of commercial information including due diligence procedures. The critical appraisal workshop lasted two days and also covered the material examined in the DipPharmMed exam. Good luck to all the exam candidates!
Critical appraisal masterclass 2013
Friday 20 September 2013 Bespoke course | Conference | Dentistry | Free
The Critical Appraisal Company ran a free masterclass today for the British Orthodontic Society at the British Orthodontic Conference 2013 in Manchester. Entitled 'Critical Appraisal in 10 easy steps', the 90 minutes long session covered the essential steps in reading clinical research papers. There was also time to practice with a real dental research paper. The session was fully booked; all delegates were given complimentary access to the Critical Appraisal Online Course. Many delegates at the conference have attended our bespoke critical appraisal training events for exam revision purposes and it was great to catch up with so many people who have passed the exams and have now attained Consultant status. Well done to everyone!
Critical appraisal training for the FRCS exam
Monday 26 August 2013 Bespoke course | Surgery
Yesterday we ran a bespoke revision course for a group of surgeons preparing for the FRCS exam. To save time, the surgeons were given access to the Critical Appraisal Online Course for pre-course preparation.The course itself was organised to take place at the weekend at Manchester Royal Infirmary so that no-one had to take leave to attend the course. Critical appraisal topics were covered in eight intensive hours, including a quick refresh of the key knowledge. Ten surgical research papers were appraised. Bespoke courses are excellent value for money and very cost-effective. The course content can be tailored to the exact requirements of the delegates and the timing of the course is flexible. We also offer the Critical Appraisal One service for personal coaching.
Critical appraisal training for SAS Doctors
Wednesday 14 August 2013 Bespoke course | Psychiatry
The Critical Appraisal Company ran a one day course for a group of Staff and Associate Specialists (SAS) Doctors in Wakefield this week. All the doctors were specialists in psychiatry and eager to improve their critical appraisal knowledge and skills. The course was led by Dr Gurpal S. Gosall of The Critical Appraisal Company, who also works as a Consultant Psychiatrist in Lancashire. Over the course of the day the doctors completed short exercises under the supervision of the tutor and answered questions using interactive digital handsets. Bespoke courses enable large groups of people to be trained at a very cost-effective price. Contact us today to arrange your event!
Critical appraisal skills training in Hyderabad, India
Friday 24 May 2013 Bespoke course | India | Pharmaceutical
Hyderabad is the capital city of the southern Indian state of Andhra Pradesh. During the 1990s the city emerged as a centre for pharmaceutical companies, earning it the title of India's pharmaceutical capital. This week it was the location of our latest Critical Appraisal Bespoke Course. Critical appraisal skills are important for medical writers in pharmaceutical companies, allowing them to accurately communicate the strengths and weaknesses of research findings to a wider audience. The training event over two days focused not only on covering the knowledge of critical appraisal using our short exercises workbook and The Doctor's Guide to Critical Appraisal book but also on the practical application of that knowledge. We always include practical work in our training events and this event was no exception. Delegates evaluated research evidence and presented their conclusions in an interactive session. The standard of the presentations improved as the delegates became more familiar with the language of critical appraisal and by the end of the event everyone was reading clinical papers with more confidence! It doesn't matter where in the world you are - if you need to improve your critical appraisal skills, we can help! Thanks to the team in Hyderabad for the wonderful hospitality!
Free critical appraisal workshop in Canberra, Australia
Friday 03 May 2013 Australia | Bespoke course | Conference | Free | Oncology and palliative care
The Critical Appraisal Company is running a one day Critical Appraisal Workshop at the 12th Australian Palliative Care Conference on 3 September 2013 at the National Convention Centre, Canberra, Australia. This fantastic opportunity to improve critical appraisal knowledge and skills for free has been organised by the Palliative Care Clinical Studies Collaborative (PaCCSC). The previous critical appraisal workshops organised by PaCCSC in New Zealand and Melbourne were a resounding success. There is no better time to visit Canberra as 2013 marks the 100 year centenary for the capital city. Registration for the conference is now open so don't delay!