Safeguarding Scientific Rigor in the Critical Evaluation of Literature: Enabling Rapid Appraisal with the CLEAR Framework

Author(s): Adeola Davis, Ruth Nicholson, & Clare Jackson

About this Position Paper

• A robust assessment of scientific data and literature is essential to safeguard scientific integrity and organizational credibility, and plays a key role in multiple deliverables across Medical Affairs functions
• Rigorous appraisal includes evaluation of publication and data integrity, study design, statistical methodology, relevance, and bias
• Publication bias, selective reporting, and flawed study design can distort the evidence base and undermine decision-making
• Scientific rigor can be maintained even when rapidly appraising literature using the CLEAR framework