title: Development and validation of a convenient formula evaluating the value and applicability of medical literature in clinical practice.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Evidence-based medicine offers explicit methods to evaluate the evidence grades of literature. However, evidence grades do not meet all the practical needs of physicians. This study is aimed to develop a convenient method for evaluating the clinical value of medical literature from the perspective of the clinician.
  
  
  METHODS
  A literature applicability equation was formulated through the Delphi method and the analytic hierarchy process. A consistency check was used to ascertain the efficacy of the formula. Three senior clinicians assessed 30 articles based on their clinical experiences and subjective opinions, while one independent researcher performed independent assessments of the applicability of 30 articles using the evaluation formula.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The literature applicability equation was Y = 3.93X1 + 11.78X2 + 14.83X3 + 44.53X4 + 24.93X5, where Y = literature applicability, X1 = years since publication, X2 = target question covered or not, X3 = sample size, X4 = study type, and X5 = journal quality. Consistency index (CI) values for the first-level indicator ("literature applicability") and the second-level indicators ("pertinence and timeliness" and "quality of results") were 0.0325, 0.0012, and 0.0001, respectively. The weights used to calculate the matrix indicators had satisfactory accordance (random coincidence coefficient = 0.056). A consistency check for the efficacy of the formula revealed kappa = 0.749 and P < .001. Conclusion : The developed and validated literature applicability evaluation formula may be a useful and convenient tool for identifying clinically valuable medical literature.
authors: Hsiao-Pei Mok, West China Medical School, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610041, China.
authors: Hsiao-Pei
authors: HP
authors: Mok
authors: Ying Zhou, West China Medical School, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610041, China.
authors: Ying
authors: Y
authors: Zhou
authors: Jun-Ru Chen, West China Medical School, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610041, China.
authors: Jun-Ru
authors: JR
authors: Chen
authors: Qiang Gao, Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Guangdong General Hospital & Guangdong Cardiovascular Institute, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510100, China.
authors: Qiang
authors: Q
authors: Gao
keywords: Analytic hierarchy process; Delphi method; Evaluation method; Evidence-based medicine; Literature applicability; Medical literature