In this session, first year medical students in their second semester of study are introduced to the concept of critical appraisal. During the first hour, students will receive an introductory lecture on critical appraisal and the CASP checklist tool. During the second hour, students will be provided with discussion questions and an article on labor induction versus expectant management in low-risk nulliparous women. Students will review the article and answer the discussion questions in their small groups with their small group facilitators.

The session introduces critical appraisal topics including blinding, randomization, concealment allocation, intention-to-treat analysis, power, statistical significance, and clinical significance.

This lesson is one component of the Evidence Based Medicine Curriculum for Undergraduate Medical Education at Florida Atlantic University.

This scaffolded assignment was developed for senior Dietetic students enrolled in a research methods course. The lessons were collaboratively created via a librarian-faculty partnership.