REVIEWS IN ACCIDENT AND EMERGENCY-MEDICINE - THE PAST AND THE FUTURE

Objective-To determine whether reviews published in the past 10 years are as helpful as they could be to their readers, and to explain why f uture reviews should meet certain methodological criteria. Methods-The quality of 16 reviews published in two journals dealing with accident and emergency medicine over 10 years was objectively assessed using 1 1 currently recommended criteria. Results-The median number of methodo logical criteria satisfied was two. Only five of the reviews posed a s pecific question or problem and then answered this with conclusions ba sed on evidence presented. Conclusions-If reviews are to enhance patie nt care, the way in which they are performed, written and used must ch ange.