For each topic, concepts are explained, and examples are reviewed from several recent and relevant clinical trials. Tables 2 and 3 provide lists of the questions that need to be asked in assessing such articles. There is also a series that discusses the statistical tests used in clinical trials. In this booklet, questions are asked based on examples from clinical trials. Each question is then answered with detailed explanations.
Guidelines are available on how to deal with such information overload.
The Journal Club chooses only the clinical trials that meet minimum criteria for being an epidemiologically sound study. An abstract of the paper is presented, along with the editors' commentaries about how the study's results compare with any previous trials. They also put the overall contributions and limitations of the trial into perspective. For those pharmacists with specialty clinical practices, it is a good idea to obtain any original articles that are pertinent to their practice, read them thoroughly, and perform their own assessments of the trials. Those reviewing the trials are required to have both clinical competence as practising physicians and training in clinical epidemiology.