Results Although highlighting a general lack of high- quality real-life effectiveness observational research on these clinical ly important topics , the analysis provided insights into how identified observational studies might inform asthma guidelines developers and clinicians .
Overall , RELEVANT appeared reliable and easy to use by expert review ers .
Conclusions Using such quality appraisal tools is m and atory to assess whether specific observational real-life effectiveness studies can be used to inform guideline development and /or decision-making in clinical practice
Abstract Introduction A Task Force was commissioned jointly by the European Academy of Allergy and Clinical Immunology ( EAACI ) and the Respiratory Effectiveness Group ( REG ) to develop a  quality assessment tool for real-life observational research to identify high- quality real-life asthma studies that could be considered within future guideline development .
Complementing the randomized controlled trial evidence base. Evolution not revolution.
Observational studies and pragmatic trials can complement classical r and omized controlled trials ( RCTs ) by providing data more relevant to the circumstances under which medicine is routinely practice d , thereby providing practical guidance for clinicians . The bearing of RCT findings on day-to-day practice can be weighted and the data more meaningfully interpreted by practicing clinicians if evidence is integrated from a variety of different study design s and method ologies . The advent of observational studies and pragmatic trials , often referred to as " real-life studies , " has met with a degree of cynicism , but their role and value is gaining widespread recognition and support among clinicians . This article discusses where observational studies and pragmatic trials have utility , namely : in addressing clinical questions that are unanswered and /or unanswerable by RCTs ; in testing new hypotheses and possible license extensions ; and in helping to differentiate between available therapies for a given indication . Moreover , it seeks to highlight how the different approaches fit within a conceptual framework of evidence relevant to clinical practice , a step-change in the traditional view of medical evidence
Results Although highlighting a general lack of high- quality real-life effectiveness observational research on these clinical ly important topics , the analysis provided insights into how identified observational studies might inform asthma guidelines developers and clinicians .
Overall , RELEVANT appeared reliable and easy to use by expert review ers .
Conclusions Using such quality appraisal tools is m and atory to assess whether specific observational real-life effectiveness studies can be used to inform guideline development and /or decision-making in clinical practice
Abstract Introduction A Task Force was commissioned jointly by the European Academy of Allergy and Clinical Immunology ( EAACI ) and the Respiratory Effectiveness Group ( REG ) to develop a  quality assessment tool for real-life observational research to identify high- quality real-life asthma studies that could be considered within future guideline development .