Which type of evidence is considered to be the strongest ,according to the evidence hierarchy?

When searching for evidence-based information, one should select the highest level of evidence possible--systematic reviews or meta-analysis. Systematic reviews, meta-analysis, and critically-appraised topics/articles have all gone through an evaluation process: they have been "filtered". 

Information that has not been critically appraised is considered "unfiltered".

As you move up the pyramid, however, fewer studies are available; it's important to recognize that high levels of evidence may not exist for your clinical question.  If this is the case, you'll need to move down the pyramid if your quest for resources at the top of the pyramid is unsuccessful.

Image Credit: Glover, Jan; Izzo, David; Odato, Karen & Lei Wang. EBM Pyramid. Dartmouth University/Yale University. 2006.

  • Meta-Analysis: A systematic review that uses quantitative methods to summarize the results.
  • Systematic Review: An article in which the authors have systematically searched for, appraised, and summarised all of the medical literature for a specific topic.
  • Critically Appraised Topic: Authors of critically-appraised topics evaluate and synthesize multiple research studies.
  • Critically Appraised Articles: Authors of critically-appraised individual articles evaluate and synopsize individual research studies.
  • Randomized Controlled Trials: RCT's include a randomized group of patients in an experimental group and a control group. These groups are followed up for the variables/outcomes of interest.
  • Cohort Study: Identifies two groups (cohorts) of patients, one which did receive the exposure of interest, and one which did not, and following these cohorts forward for the outcome of interest.
  • Case-Control Study: Involves identifying patients who have the outcome of interest (cases) and control patients without the same outcome, and looking to see if they had the exposure of interest.
  • Background Information/Expert Opinion: Handbooks, encyclopedias, and textbooks often provide a good foundation or introduction and often include generalized information about a condition.  While background information presents a convenient summary, often it takes about three years for this type of literature to be published.
  • Animal Research / Lab Studies: Information begins at the bottom of the pyramid: this is where ideas and laboratory research takes place. Ideas turn into therapies and diagnostic tools, which then are tested with lab models and animals.

Introduction

One way to organize the different types of evidence involved in evidence-based practice research is the levels of evidence pyramid. The pyramid includes a variety of evidence types and levels.

  • Filtered resources
    • systematic reviews
    • critically-appraised topics
    • critically-appraised individual articles
  • Unfiltered resources
    • randomized controlled trials
    • cohort studies
    • case-controlled studies, case series, and case reports
  • Background information, expert opinion

The levels of evidence pyramid provides a way to visualize both the quality of evidence and the amount of evidence available. For example, systematic reviews are at the top of the pyramid, meaning they are both the highest level of evidence and the least common. As you go down the pyramid, the amount of evidence will increase as the quality of the evidence decreases.

EBM Pyramid and EBM Page Generator, copyright 2006 Trustees of Dartmouth College and Yale University. All Rights Reserved.
Produced by Jan Glover, David Izzo, Karen Odato and Lei Wang.

Filtered Resources

Filtered resources appraise the quality of studies and often make recommendations for practice. The main types of filtered resources in evidence-based practice are:

  • systematic reviews
  • critically-appraised topics
  • critically-appraised individual articles

Scroll down the page to the Systematic reviews, Critically-appraised topics, and Critically-appraised individual articles sections for links to resources where you can find each of these types of filtered information.

Systematic reviews

Authors of a systematic review ask a specific clinical question, perform a comprehensive literature review, eliminate the poorly done studies, and attempt to make practice recommendations based on the well-done studies. Systematic reviews include only experimental, or quantitative, studies, and often include only randomized controlled trials.

You can find systematic reviews in these filtered databases:

  • Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews

    Cochrane systematic reviews are considered the gold standard for systematic reviews. This database contains both systematic reviews and review protocols. To find only systematic reviews, select Cochrane Reviews in the Document Type box.

  • JBI EBP Database (formerly Joanna Briggs Institute EBP Database)

    This database includes systematic reviews, evidence summaries, and best practice information sheets. To find only systematic reviews, click on Limits and then select Systematic Reviews in the Publication Types box. To see how to use the limit and find full text, please see our Joanna Briggs Institute Search Help page.

  • Database of Abstracts of Reviews of Effects (DARE)

    • Which type of evidence is considered to be the strongest ,according to the evidence hierarchy?

    DARE contains reviews and details about systematic reviews on topics for which a Cochrane review may not exist. Note: It does not contain full-text systematic reviews, it only has abstracts. This database is recommended for long-term research projects, not for retrieving full-text systematic reviews.

You can also find systematic reviews in this unfiltered database:

  • CINAHL Plus with Full Text

    • Which type of evidence is considered to be the strongest ,according to the evidence hierarchy?

    To find systematic reviews in CINAHL, select Systematic Review in the Publication Type box.

To learn more about finding systematic reviews, please see our guide:

Critically-appraised topics

Authors of critically-appraised topics evaluate and synthesize multiple research studies. Critically-appraised topics are like short systematic reviews focused on a particular topic.

You can find critically-appraised topics in these resources:

  • Annual Reviews

    This collection offers comprehensive, timely collections of critical reviews written by leading scientists. To find reviews on your topic, use the search box in the upper-right corner.

  • Guideline Central

    This free database offers quick-reference guideline summaries organized by a new non-profit initiative which will aim to fill the gap left by the sudden closure of AHRQ’s National Guideline Clearinghouse (NGC).

  • JBI EBP Database (formerly Joanna Briggs Institute EBP Database)

    To find critically-appraised topics in JBI, click on Limits and then select Evidence Summaries from the Publication Types box. To see how to use the limit and find full text, please see our Joanna Briggs Institute Search Help page.

  • Best BETs

    Best Evidence Topics are modified critically-appraised topics designed specifically for emergency medicine.

  • National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE)

    Evidence-based recommendations for health and care in England.

Critically-appraised individual articles

Authors of critically-appraised individual articles evaluate and synopsize individual research studies.

You can find critically-appraised individual articles in these resources:

  • EvidenceAlerts

    Quality articles from over 120 clinical journals are selected by research staff and then rated for clinical relevance and interest by an international group of physicians. Note: You must create a free account to search EvidenceAlerts.

  • ACP Journal Club

    This journal publishes reviews of research on the care of adults and adolescents. You can either browse this journal or use the Search within this publication feature.

  • Evidence-Based Nursing

    This journal reviews research studies that are relevant to best nursing practice. You can either browse individual issues or use the search box in the upper-right corner.

To learn more about finding critically-appraised individual articles, please see our guide:

Unfiltered resources

You may not always be able to find information on your topic in the filtered literature. When this happens, you'll need to search the primary or unfiltered literature. Keep in mind that with unfiltered resources, you take on the role of reviewing what you find to make sure it is valid and reliable.

Note: You can also find systematic reviews and other filtered resources in these unfiltered databases.

The Levels of Evidence Pyramid includes unfiltered study types in this order of evidence from higher to lower:

  • randomized controlled trials
  • cohort studies
  • case-controlled studies, case series, and case reports

You can search for each of these types of evidence in the following databases:

  • CINAHL Plus with Full Text

    • Which type of evidence is considered to be the strongest ,according to the evidence hierarchy?

    The CINAHL Plus with full text database is a great place to search for different study types. To learn how to use limiters to find specific study types, please see our CINAHL Search Help page.

  • MEDLINE with Full Text

    • Which type of evidence is considered to be the strongest ,according to the evidence hierarchy?

    The MEDLINE with Full Text database has a more medical focus than CINAHL. We recommend starting your searches in CINAHL and if you can't find what you need, then search MEDLINE. To learn how to use limiters to find specific study types, please see our MEDLINE Search Help page.

TRIP database

  • TRIP Database

    • Which type of evidence is considered to be the strongest ,according to the evidence hierarchy?

    TRIP (Turning Research into Practice) is a freely-accessible database that includes evidence-based synopses, clinical answers, systematic reviews, guidelines, and tools. It does not automatically link to Walden subscriptions; may use Google Scholar to find full text.

Background information & expert opinion

Background information and expert opinions are not necessarily backed by research studies. They include point-of-care resources, textbooks, conference proceedings, etc.

  • Family Physicians Inquiries Network: Clinical Inquiries

    Provide the ideal answers to clinical questions using a structured search, critical appraisal, authoritative recommendations, clinical perspective, and rigorous peer review. Clinical Inquiries deliver best evidence for point-of-care use.

  • Medscape: Drugs & Diseases

    An open-access, point-of-care medical reference that includes clinical information from top physicians and pharmacists in the United States and worldwide.

  • Virginia Henderson Global Nursing e-Repository

    An open-access repository that contains works by nurses and is sponsored by Sigma Theta Tau International, the Honor Society of Nursing. Note: This resource contains both expert opinion and evidence-based practice articles.

What type of evidence is the strongest in the hierarchy of research evidence?

Systematic Reviews and Meta Analyses Well done systematic reviews, with or without an included meta-analysis, are generally considered to provide the best evidence for all question types as they are based on the findings of multiple studies that were identified in comprehensive, systematic literature searches.

What is the best hierarchy of evidence?

Systematic reviews are generally considered as the strongest form of evidence as they summarise and synthesise the findings of multiple studies identified in comprehensive, systematic literature searches. Systematic reviews that contain meta-analyses provide the most reliable summary of evidence on a topic.

What are the strongest types of evidence?

7. Direct Evidence. The most powerful type of evidence, direct evidence requires no inference and directly proves the fact you are investigating. The evidence alone is the proof, if you believe the accounts.

Which type of evidence is considered to be the strongest according to the evidence hierarchy quizlet?

The strongest possible evidence according to this hierarchy comes from SYSTEMIC REVIEWS that integrate findings from multiple Randomized controlled trials (RCTs).