CASP Critical Appraisal Session
Evaluate research papers systematically using the 10-point Critical Appraisal Skills Programme structure. This 60-minute session guides you through study validity, result precision, and practical relevance.
8 time blocks, 60 minutes in total.
Time blocks
- PICO Screening Filter: 5 min
Check if the study addresses a clearly focused question using PICO - Search Strategy Audit: 10 min
Review search sources, database selection, and reference scanning - Quality Assessment Review: 10 min
Examine how included studies were assessed for risk of bias - Effect Size Extraction: 10 min
Record main numerical outcomes, odds ratios, or relative risks - Confidence Interval Audit: 10 min
Evaluate result precision and statistical significance boundaries - Heterogeneity Assessment: 5 min
Check if results across included papers were combined reasonably - Population Match Check: 5 min
Compare study demographics to your local context or target audience - Outcome and Harm Evaluation: 5 min
Verify if all clinically or practical outcomes were reported
About this routine
The Critical Appraisal Skills Programme provides structured checklists to help researchers, clinicians, and policy analysts evaluate health and social care research. Performing a CASP systematic critical appraisal ensures you evaluate literature consistently rather than relying on gut feelings or executive summaries.
This 60-minute workflow breaks the CASP framework into three clear phases. You begin by screening study methodology and search thoroughness, progress to analyzing numerical precision and outcome heterogeneity, and close by testing whether the findings apply to your local population.
By working through these sequential beats in a structured window, you produce a standardized summary of evidence quality. Using a timed morning routine approach for systematic reading keeps your analytical focus sharp and prevents getting lost in background literature.
Why this routine works
- Establishes a repeatable method for reviewing systematic reviews and clinical studies
- Prevents methodological oversights by checking risk of bias and search rigor
- Clarifies result precision through structured confidence interval extraction
- Accelerates evidence translation by evaluating local applicability directly
FAQ
What is CASP systematic critical appraisal?
It is an evidence evaluation framework created by the Critical Appraisal Skills Programme. It uses structured 10-question checklists to assess study validity, result accuracy, and practical relevance.
How long does a CASP evidence review take?
A standard CASP critical appraisal session takes about 60 minutes for a single systematic review or study.
What are the three main sections of a CASP checklist?
The three sections ask whether the study results are valid, what the results are, and whether the results will help locally.
Sources
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Updated August 2026
Compiled from public sources and reviewed before publishing.