CAT (Critically Appraised Topic) groups

Members of each CAT groups work together with the outreach librarians to search for the best research evidence to answer topical and important clinical questions in their area of practice. They find and evaluate current best practice and identify inconsistency in clinical practice. They might focus on clinical challenges, dilemmas, uncertainties or variations. A group aims to present research in a way that is accessible, allowing teams to easily access and adopt the findings to improve practice.

A key outcome of this process is a clinical bottom line offering a qualified answer to the clinical question posed which can be made available to staff, patients and researchers to help inform clinical practice.

Benefits for patients, staff, teams, OHFT and the wider NHS include quality improvement and consistent evidence-based best practice. The process  also encourages collaboration within and across teams and provides opportunities for professional development and research.

What support is provided by outreach librarians?

• Attending team meetings to support development of CAT groups.
• Training in critical appraisal.
• Helping to refine a clinical question and identify search terms.
• Conducting a scoping search using specialised healthcare databases.
• Undertaking more detailed evidence searches for teams to appraise.
• Access to copies of research articles.
• Organisation and collation of CAT resources.

Our current OHFT CAT Groups:

• Clinician Research Pathway
• Community Diabetes Service
• Community Heart Failure
• Community Respiratory Team
• Community Tissue Viability Service
• Marcham Road Practice Nurses

Here is an example of a completed clinical bottom line from the Marcham Road Practice Nurses

Topical-antimicrobials-and-antimicrobial-reistance-CAT.pdf

For assistance in developing a CAT group for your team, contact:

The library, library.enquiries@oxfordhealth.nhs.uk

Lucy Speakman, NMAHPresearchtraininganddevelopment@oxfordhealth.nhs.uk

CAT Group Forum: Come along to find out more about starting and running your own group.

2025: 2 June, 14 July, 25 August, 6 October, 17 November and 29 December, at 12.00 via MS Teams

2026: 9 February, 23 March, 4 May, 15 June and 27 July, at 12.00 via MS Teams:

Join the meeting now

 

Further information and resources

Clinical questions banks, Keele University	A bank of resources that include videos, e tutorials and patient-let CATs.
Guides and tutorial, OH library services	A list of guides and tutorials to help you improving your information skills at your own pace.
Impact Accelerator Unit, Keele University	Information about two currently active Evidence into Practice groups for Allied Health Professionals and General Practice Nursing, along with satellite groups.
Lists of Nursing and Allied Healthcare Professions(AHP) appraised topics, Keele University	A list of over 150 topics appraised on Nursing and AHP.
Promoting true evidence-based practice using appraised topics	Evidence-Based Nursing blog (bmj.com) This blog introduces the use of Critically Appraised Topics (CATs) in community nursing.