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Dear friends and colleagues, After almost a year, we are getting close to completing our evaluation of the CATs (critically appraised topics) currently available on the WWW. We want to contribute, at the end of our analysis, with a set "users' guides" to CATs on the Internet. These guides had to include validity criteria for systematic reviews (the big fat CAT) as well as criteria for health information on the web. The hybrid was challenged, torn, reconstructed, and destroyed several times. This is its current format (see below). I will appreciate comments from Internet information users, Users' guides authors, CAT authors, CAT site owners, and the list at large. Thanks a million for your input. Victor Montori, MD Mayo IM EBM Working Group Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN [log in to unmask] Users' Guides to CAT-containing sites on the WWW A. Criteria for content, currency of information, and attribution and documentation of CATs on the Internet Is the CAT valid? 1. Was the CAT focused by a well-built clinical question? 2. Was an explicit and sensible process used to identify and select the evidence? 3. Was the evidence appraised the best available to answer the question? Is it unlikely that relevant studies were missed? 4. Were the appropriate validity criteria applied to the evidence appraised? 5. Are all the dates clearly stated? Date of search, date of publication, date of expiration? What is the CAT's message? 1. What is the CAT's message? 2. How strong is the message? Will the CAT's message help me in my patient care? 1. Can I apply the message in my patient care setting, to my patients? 2. Were all clinically important outcomes, benefits, harms, and costs discussed? B. Criteria for authority of authors, disclosure of competing interests, and feedback mechanism 1. Is the academic or training level of the authors or commentators clearly stated? 2. Have the authors, site developers, and sponsors disclose all competing interests? 3. Is there a mechanism to contact the authors? %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%