Exercise as it relates to Disease/Exemplar template

PLEASE write a reference of the article you are critiquing at the top of the page.

What is the background to this research?

 * a very brief introduction to what the paper is about,
 * how the research fills a gap in existing knowledge,
 * and why it is important

Where is the research from?

 * Is the location, or group, in which this research was conducted important to share?


 * Do the authors of the research have a track-record/reputation in the field?


 * Are there organisational/sponsorship links that may be a conflict of interest/bias the findings?

What kind of research was this?

 * What kind of study was it? Observational, an RCT, a meta-analysis?
 * Does the level of evidence from these, and other types of studies, differ?

What did the research involve?

 * Provide a lay summary of what the participants did in the study?
 * Was the methodology the best approach?
 * What limitations exist related to the important measures taken, or other aspects of the methodology (participant recruitment for instance)?

What were the basic results?

 * What were the important findings?
 * How did the researchers interpret the results?
 * Do they over-emphasis the implications of their findings?

What conclusions can we take from this research?

 * Provide your own insights on the conclusion (it may not quite be the same as the authors)
 * How do the findings align with other research in the area (in particular more recent publications that won't be mentioned in the paper)

Practical advice

 * What real-world implications does this research have? Examples might includes:
 * criteria for not exercising,
 * recommendations on what exercises to do, how to do them,
 * recommendations on monitoring and progressing exercises within specific populations,
 * considerations for encouraging physical activity within a specific setting, etc
 * Are there other considerations readers should know about before taking on this practical advice? Perhaps health/safety more information/resources?

Further information/resources

 * What further reading may interested readers benefit from?
 * What website, or online organisations, offer further information/support to groups that are linked to your assignment?
 * Consider the audience you are pitching this information for - are the links appropriate (e.g. links to research papers are probably not appropriate if the information is for patients, but it may be if it is for other allied health professionals)