CRITICAL APPRAISAL FOR FRCEM

We are three recent post CCST Emergency Medicine doctors, with an interest in clinical medicine and not in medical statistics. But we understand why it is needed and why it helps us to decide how to treat our patients... The course is exam focused; the two days have three practice papers and tips on how to pass the exam. However, we believe in teaching an understanding of critical appraisal, rather than rote learning of formulae... Although prior revision of critical appraisal will be valuable (as well as practice papers after the course), we aim to teach everything from basic principles up to a level necessary to pass the exam. The course is of benefit for those in the final stages of their CCST or just embarking on higher training, and wanting to do the exam early. It is also relevant for those about to start work on their clinical topic review and want to know what to look for when reading papers.