An essential part of the continuing education of general practitioners is critical evaluation of published research papers, yet many GPs feel unsure about their ability to do this effectively. By reproducing original research papers followed by a critical appraisal by another author in the field, the editors of this volume demonstrate how to get the most from the published literature. The papers presented use diverse methodologies, including qualitative and quantitative research methods, in-depth interviews, descriptive surveys, analytical studies, randomized controlled trials and cohort studies, covering many aspects of patient care.