What is the role of peer review in evidence-based practice?

• A. To fund new studies
• B. To assess the quality, validity, and applicability of research before publication or use in practice
• C. To recruit participants
• D. To advertise journals

Answer: (B)

Peer review provides a quality control check for research that informs evidence-based practice. It involves experts evaluating a study before publication to judge whether the methods are sound, the data analyses are appropriate, the conclusions are justified, and the findings are relevant to clinical care. This helps clinicians trust that the research they apply to patient decisions is credible and applicable, reducing the risk of using flawed or biased results. The process examines study design, sample size, potential confounding factors, and the logic connecting results to conclusions. It's not about funding studies, recruiting participants, or advertising journals—those are separate activities and do not determine the study’s scientific merit. While not perfect and not every important finding undergoes this review, peer review remains a key mechanism for ensuring evidence used in practice meets standards of quality.