By Rod Jackson

The Graphic Appraisal Tool for Epidemiological studies (GATE) is a simple, easily remembered toolkit to help you critically appraise epidemiological studies that includes one picture, two equations and three acronyms. GATE uses a picture of a triangle, circle, square and two arrows to represent the generic structure of epidemiological studies. We call this picture ‘the GATE frame.’ All common epidemiological study designs, from randomised controlled trials to case-control studies, can be illustrated using a GATE frame. While the GATE approach to critical appraisal covers the same ground as other critical appraisal guides, its point of difference is its generic graphic framework that emphasises the similarities between all study designs. With GATE, your goal is to ‘hang’ a study on the GATE frame as follows: more…

by Cathy A. Alessi and Michael V. Vitiello

Cognitive-behavioral therapy for insomnia (CBT-I) has been consistently demonstrated to be efficacious in a wide variety of settings and patient populations including older adults. This efficacy has been demonstrated in both patients with uncomplicated insomnia and in those whose insomnia is comorbid with a variety of medical and psychiatric conditions, more…

by Paul Glasziou

Gordon Guyatt coined the term ‘Evidence-based Medicine’ (EBM) over 20 years ago, and it has had a remarkable global influence. But EBM is not a static set of concepts, set in stone tablets in the 1990’s; it is a young and evolving discipline. The fundamental concept of EBM – using the best available research evidence to aid clinical care – may have changed little, but what is best and how to apply the concepts in practice continue to develop. more…