The reading companion
A little more context.
A better question.
Use this page beside any of our guides. You can print it or save it as a PDF from your browser.
Before you read a health claim
- Name the claim precisely: a change in a measurement, an experience, or a clinical outcome?
- Identify the people studied. How similar is their situation to yours?
- Find the comparison. What happened in the control group?
- Check the size, duration, dropouts and outcomes that were planned.
- Look for the size of the difference, its uncertainty and any harms.
- Check whether independent studies found something similar.
- Notice who funded the work and whether a product is being promoted.
Three lines worth keeping
The question I want to answer:
What this source actually measured:
What remains uncertain:
Preparing for a conversation about care
Bring the exact practice, product or article you are asking about. Describe your goal and any symptoms, existing conditions or medicines that may be relevant. Ask about interactions, suitable alternatives, and how you would recognise a problem. An educational guide does not replace that assessment.
Krótka pomoc po polsku
Sprawdź, czego naprawdę dotyczy twierdzenie, kto brał udział w badaniu, z czym porównano wynik i czego nadal nie wiadomo. Do rozmowy ze specjalistą przygotuj nazwę praktyki oraz pytania o bezpieczeństwo i możliwe interakcje. Ten arkusz służy uporządkowaniu lektury, nie diagnozie.