Directions
Complete a summary of the assigned randomized controlled trial (RCT). Summaries must be no longer than one page (exclusive of the title page). Follow all the APA Red Rules on the 5-pager at the top of the modules page, including Arial 12 font; 1-inch margins top, bottom, left, and right; and a page break after the title page. Include name on the title page. An Annotated Bibliography does not require references at the end as the full citation is presented before each summary (annotation).
Special Considerations:
It is often possible to include the design, sample size, intervention variable, and outcome variable in the first sentence or two.
Review Outline for Summarizing Research Studies
Effective summaries of research studies are complete, concise, and reflect normative expectations. Most health professionals expect to read and hear information about research studies in the order below, so the research summary must follow the order below. The first two to three elements can sometimes be clearly communicated in a single sentence. Do not use the bold headers below in your summary. Write this as a narrative and preferably in a single paragraph (at most, two).
Study Design
This is usually crystal clear, but less so for program evaluation and quality improvement studies
Sample Description and Size
Sometimes the sample description is included in the design, such as a randomized controlled trial or randomized clinical trial.
Intervention, Independent Variable (or Lines of Inquiry if qualitative)
Sometimes it is necessary to write 1-2 sentences describing how the intervention was implemented. Give only what someone reading a quick summary needs to know–generally less than is in the abstract.
Primary Outcome, Dependent Variable (or Lines of Inquiry if qualitative)
Most of the time, you will only report on the primary outcome variable. Sometimes, your audience will be more interested in a secondary outcome but always report on the primary outcome first. If you choose to include results for a secondary outcome(s), remember to identify them as secondary outcomes.
Results
Report actual results, for the Dependent Variable for both the Intervention Group and the Comparison/Control Group. Generally, report the statistical result for the primary variable reflected in the abstract. Results are reported in this order:
Actual results
Confidence Interval
p-value [statistical significance] and/or effect size [also statistical quantification of effect size]
Strength of the evidence (1-2 sentences).
Make a judgment. It doesn’t have to be “right.” This is for practice. Focus on:
Randomization
Unblinded, single-blinded, or double-blinded
Control or Comparison Groups: What procedures were used to help ensure that any change in the dependent variable was due to the independent variable? Don’t go into the weeds here. Remember, 1-2 sentences on the strength of the evidence.
Clinical Significance. 1-2 sentences.
Clinical significance can be completely different from statistical significance; you’ll learn this over time.
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