The FRISBE model is a structured approach used in Journal Club discussions to critically appraise clinical trials and other medical literature. It helps ensure a systematic evaluation of study design, methodology, and applicability to practice. FRISBE stands for:

F - Funding & Conflicts of Interest

• Who funded the study? (Pharmaceutical company, government, independent institution?)
• Are there potential conflicts of interest (e.g., authors being affiliated with the sponsor)?
• Could financial or other interests influence the study outcomes?

R - Randomization

• Was the allocation of participants truly random?
• What method of randomization was used?
• Was the allocation sequence concealed to prevent selection bias?

I - Intention-to-Treat (ITT) Analysis

• Did the study use ITT analysis (all participants analyzed as originally assigned)?
• If not, did it use per-protocol or another analysis method?
• Were dropouts and non-compliance accounted for?

S - Similarity at Baseline

• Were the groups comparable at the start in terms of demographics, comorbidities, and other key characteristics?
• If differences existed, were they adjusted for in the analysis?

B - Blinding

• Who was blinded in the study? (Patients, clinicians, outcome assessors?)
• Was blinding adequate to minimize bias?
• If blinding was not possible, were objective outcomes used?

E - Equal Treatment Except for Intervention

• Were both groups treated similarly apart from the intervention being tested?
• Were co-interventions, follow-up, and adherence similar in both groups?

Application in a Journal Club

When reviewing a study, you can apply the FRISBE model as a checklist:

1. Start with the study background – What was the research question?
2. Assess each component of FRISBE systematically.
3. Discuss strengths, limitations, and applicability to clinical practice