The reading, writing, and arithmetic of the medical literature, part 3: critical appraisal of primary research.
OBJECTIVE
To offer suggestions that will help clinicians improve their scrutiny of the medical literature and apply these suggestions to their own medical writings.


METHODS
Literature searches began at the National Library of Medicine's online database and were traced to primary sources.


METHODS
Studies were selected for their ability to provide historical background, discuss the aspects of study design and statistical analysis, and explore important facets of reading and writing medical manuscripts.


RESULTS
Physician readers will become more proficient in their skills as both users and creators of the medical literature.


CONCLUSIONS
Reading and interpretation of the medical literature requires a set of skills that can be learned. Similarly, good medical writing skills can be developed. Achieving these skills will enhance the clinician's practice of medicine.
Mansfield
Lyndon
L
Western Sky Medical Research and Department of Pediatrics, Texas Tech Regional Health Science Center, El Paso, Texas, USA. immunman@pol.net
D001319:Authorship; D035843:Biomedical Research / Q000592:standards; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards; D003627:Data Interpretation, Statistical; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine / Q000592:standards; D006801:Humans; D010506:Periodicals as Topic / Q000592:standards*; D017594:Publication Bias; D011932:Reading; D014956:Writing / Q000592:standards