Consider the iWonder: BBC article on antimicrobial resistance located in the resources.
Antimicrobial resistance is an emerging global public health problem that has been
linked to the use of antibiotics by the livestock industry, doctors over prescribing
antibiotics and people not taking a full course of antibiotics.
To prepare for this assignment:
• Construct a research question that seeks to address a specific aspect of the
issue of antimicrobial resistant bacteria.
• Select five studies relevant to your research question about antimicrobial
resistant bacteria (a mixture of observational and RCTs, supporting and not
supporting the hypothesis).-Please consider studies between 2000-2015
• Rank the studies according to the FORM (Hillier, et al., 2011) or GRADE levels of
evidence (The GRADE Working Group, 2008).
• Review the frameworks in the resources (Bonita, et al., 2006;
Rychetnick, et al., 2006; Young & Solomon, 2009; and the critical appraisal skills
program (CASP) checklist).
Write a 2,500-word paper that:
• Introduces the topic and clearly outlines your RESEARCH QUESTION and the
justification behind it
• Outlines the selection strategy that you used to retrieve the five studies
• Briefly rank the studies using either the FORM (Hillier, et al., 2011) or GRADE
levels of evidence (The GRADE Working Group, 2008)
• Critically appraises the studies using one of the frameworks outlined in the
Learning Resources (Bonita, et al., 2006; Rychetnick, et al., 2002; Young and
Solomon, 2009; or the CASP checklists), including an assessment of the
suitability of the study design to answer the research question, analysis of the
potential for bias, confounding and chance errors and an evaluation of ethical
considerations
• Reaches a conclusion as to which is (are) the highest quality study(ies) and why
• Considers the potential for the study findings to be implemented in policy and
practice
• Makes recommendations to address any research gaps you recognise

Assessment Criteria

• Knowledge and understanding of critical appraisal procedures, including search
strategies and the hierarchy of evidence accepted by the Australian Government
National Health and Medical Research Council.
• Critical analysis of five articles using one of the frameworks listed in the Learning
Resources
• Interpretation of the findings of the critical appraisal to reach a conclusion as to
the quality of the studies and their potential to be implemented in policy and
practice
• Academic presentation, including professional language and APA formatting and
referencing

Resources

Bonita, R., Beaglehole, R. & Kjellström, T. (2006). Basic epidemiology (2nd ed.). Geneva, CH: World Health Organization. Retrieved from http://whqlibdoc.who.int/publications/2006/9241547073_eng.pdf
Basic Epidemiology by Bonita, R., Beaglehole,R., & Kjellström, T. Retrieved from http://whqlibdoc.who.int/publications/2006/9241547073_eng.pdf. Copyright 2006 by World Health Organization. Reprinted by permission of World Health Organization via the Copyright Clearance Center.

Australian Government: National Health and Medical Research Council. (1999). How to review the evidence: Systematic identification and review of the scientific literature. Retrieved from https://www.nhmrc.gov.au/_files_nhmrc/publications/attachments/cp65.pdf

Critical Appraisal Skills Programme. (2013). CASP checklists. Retrieved from http://www.casp-uk.net/#!casp-tools-checklists/c18f8

Hillier, S., Grimmer-Somers, K., Merlin, T., Middleton, P., Salisbury, J., Tooher, R., & Weston, A. (2011). FORM: An Australian method for formulating and grading recommendations in evidence-based clinical guidelines. BMC Medical Research Methodology, 11(23).FORM: An Australian method for formulating and grading recommendations in evidence-based clinical guidelines by Hillier, S., Grimmer-Somers, K., Merlin, T., Middleton, P., Salisbury, J., Tooher, R., & Weston, A. in BMC Medical Research Methodology, 11(23), 1-8. Copyright 2011 by Biomed Central. Reprinted by permission of Biomed Central via the Copyright Clearance Center.

iWonder: BBC. (2014). Human vs superbug: Too late to turn the tide? Retrieved from http://www.bbc.co.uk/guides/z8kccdm

Rychetnick, L., Frommer, M., Hawe, P., & Shiell, A. (2002). Criteria for evaluating evidence on public health. Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health, 56(2), 119–127.Criteria for evaluating evidence on public health interventions by Rychetnick, L., Frommer, M., Hawe, P., & Shiell, A. in Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health, 56(2), 119–27. Copyright 2002 by BMJ Publishing Group. Reprinted by permission of BMJ Publishing Group via the Copyright Clearance Center.

Smith, G. D., & Ebrahim, S. (2002). Data dredging, bias, or confounding. British Medical Journal, 325, 1437–1438.Data dredging, bias or confounding by Smith, G. D., & Shaw, E. in British Medical Journal, 325(7378), 1437–1438. Copyright 2002 by BMJ Publishing Group. Reprinted by permission of BMJ Publishing Group via the Copyright Clearance Center.

The GRADE Working Group. (2004). Grading quality of evidence and strength of recommendations. British Medical Journal, 328(7454), 1490–1494.Grading quality of evidence and strength of recommendations by The GRADE Working Group in British Medical Journal, 328(754), 1490–1494. Copyright 2004 by BMJ Publishing Group. Reprinted by permission of BMJ Publishing Group via the Copyright Clearance Center.

Young, J. M., & Solomon, M. J. (2009). How to critically appraise an article. Nature Clinical Practice Gastroenterology & Hepatology, 6, 82–91. How to critically appraise an article by Young, J. M., & Solomon, M. J. in Nature Clinical Practice Gastroenterology and Hepatology, 6(2), 82–91. Copyright 2009 by Nature Publishing Group. Reprinted by permission of Nature Publishing Group via the Copyright Clearance Center.