How to read a research article

Author(s): C Addington and K Mamy - Pages: 60-64

Abstract

There is a well-known gap between the research base and clinical practice. This is partly because, at an individual level, it is often difficult for healthcare professionals to translate published findings into their own practice. This is the first in a short series of articles by the research reviews team that aim to help readers through this process. The authors focus on a stepwise approach to reading a range of research more efficiently. This process includes: defining a reading goal; deciding whether a paper is worth reading; getting to grips with a scientific article; and reflecting on the reading process.