Critical Appraisal

This course is part of The Applied Sciences of Oncology (ASO) distance-learning course.AimTo provide an understanding of statistical methodology sufficient for oncologists to critically appraise the medical literatureObjectivesUpon completion, participants should be able to:Discuss the variation in incidence of cancer sites and the implications for cancer control.Perform simple and effective searches of the medical literature to identify relevant studies.Discuss distinctions between various types of clinical studies.Discuss when various types of study are appropriate and their strengths and limitations.Describe the basis of Kaplan-Meier estimates of survival.Describe the range of clinical end-points in studies of treatment activity and efficacy.Discuss the role of meta-analysis in providing evidence for medical decision making.Be able to apply the techniques of clinical decision analysis.Explain the way prognostic factors are derived & their impact on patient outcomes.