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Evidence-Based Medicine: Levels of Evidence

Hierarchy of Evidence-Based Resources

Adapted from DiCenso A, Bayley L, Haynes RB. ACP Journal Club. Editorial: Accessing preappraised evidence: fine-tuning the 5S model into a 6S model. Ann Intern Med. 2009;151(6):JC3.

Foreground Question Resources

Systems

Electronic medical records
 

Summaries

Regularly updated clinical guidelines or textbooks that integrate evidence-based information about specific clinical problems. 

Synopses of Syntheses

Summarizes the information and draws conclusions found in systematic reviews and meta-analyses. 

 

Syntheses

Systematic reviews of meta-analyses. A comprehensive summary of all the evidence surrounding a research question. . 

Synopses of Single Studies

Summaries of evidence from high-quality studies.  . 

 

Single Studies

Unique research conducted to answer specific clinical questions.  


Adapted from: https://hslmcmaster.libguides.com/friendly.php?s=ebm