The randomized controlled study by D'Alessandro et al1 in this issue of the ARCHIVES examines a novel educational intervention that entails providing an information prescription (IP) to parents at their children's well-child visits. Providing the IP and the accompanying guidance about its use can be considered a type of therapy. We appraise the study with regard to its validity, its results, and how it will help in caring for patients, using the Users' Guides to the Medical Literature for therapy and prevention published in JAMA. 2-3
VALIDITY OF THE STUDY
How Was the Sample Population Obtained?
Obtaining a sample population is important in determining not only to whom the study may be generalized but also the validity of the results. For example, if all patients enrolled in a study are more likely than average to respond to an intervention, the study may yield a falsely positive result.
Appropriately, in this study, everyone who entered the general pediatrics clinic within . . . [Full Text of this Article]
Was the Study Randomized?
Were the Intervention and Control Groups Similar?
Was the Study Double-blinded?
Were All Patients Who Entered the Trial Properly Accounted for and Attributed to the Correct Group at the End of the Study?
WHAT WERE THE RESULTS?
WILL THE RESULTS HELP ME IN CARING FOR MY PATIENTS?
Are the Results Applicable to My Patients?
Were All Clinically Important Outcomes Considered?
Does the Treatment Improve Outcomes That Are Important to My Patients?
Are the Likely Treatment Benefits Worth the Potential Harms and Costs?
CONCLUSIONS
