This page has all the critical appraisal tools that have been created specifically for NERD.
This online textbook is an update and refinement of the previous NERDCAT RCT and SRMA tools. It is organized into 3 chapters, an appendix of core statistical concepts (Appendix: Fundamental Statistics), and a comprehensive glossary of key terms. NERDCAT can be read front-to-back or perused as a reference guide when appraising a study.
A PDF version is also available.
NERDCAT-RCT (updated Jan 13, 2022) - For randomized controlled trials
This comprehensive tool ensures that you ask all the major questions when appraising a randomized-controlled trial. It also has additional sections for special scenarios, such as trials that have been stopped prematurely, non-inferiority trials, and trials using composite outcomes.
NERDCAT-SRMA (updated Jan 13, 2022) - For systematic reviews and meta-analyses
This tool is designed to help you appraise and interpret systematic reviews with or without meta-analysis.
NERDCAT-Obs (updated Feb 2016) – For observational studies (case-control and cohort studies)
This tool is designed to assist in interpretation of observational studies. The first section of this 2-part document provides a brief – but comprehensive – checklist, whereas the second section provides additional context and explanation required to properly interpret observational studies;
NERDCAT-CPR (updated Feb 2016) - For clinical prediction rules and prognostic tools
This comprehensive tool introduces the study methodologies required to bring a clinical prediction tool (like CHADS2 or the Framingham risk calculator) into practice, presents a framework for critically appraising these tools, and introduces the statistical concepts unique to diagnostic and prognostic studies. A PDF of a previous Powerpoint presentation on the topic can be found here.