Critical reading using the READER acronym at an international workshop.

There is increasing interest in evidence based medicine and critical evaluation of medical literature as an aid to decision making and greater emphasis on using results of research in decision making is one of the recent advances in general practice. There are well recognized models for critical reading which apply more complex rules of epidemiology but this paper describes the use of the READER model; a simple, easily applied method of assessing research, most suitable for those who have limited time for reading. This method is used in general practice training schemes and in continuing medical education in Ireland and the United Kingdom; this study describes its use by participants from a number of countries at a critical reading workshop held at the 14th WONCA World Conference in Hong Kong in 1995.