The following documents are from the CONSORT (Consolidated Standards of Reporting Trials) website. Use them to critically appraise published trials.
For Journal Club critical appraisal use the CONSORT 2010 Checklist
The PRISMA website contains the recommended guidelines for appraising systematic reviews and meta-analyses. PRISMA stands for Preferred Reporting Items of Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses. The PRISMA Statement outlines the background to the guidelines.
Key PRISMA Documents:
Reporting levels of evidence is an important part of critical appraisal.
In Australia NHMRC Levels of Evidence are used. However institutions around the world may use other levels of evidence. Always cite the source of the level of evidence you are using. See the following PowerPoint for an overview of available levels of evidence: