Hierarchy of evidence
Hierarchy of Evidence
The Hierarchy of Evidence (pronunciation: /ˈhaɪəˌrɑːrki ɒv ˈɛvɪdəns/) is a concept in Evidence-based medicine that is used to rank the relative strength of results obtained from scientific research. The concept has its roots in the field of epistemology, the study of knowledge and justified belief.
Etymology
The term "Hierarchy of Evidence" is derived from the English words "hierarchy" (from the Greek 'hierarkhia', meaning 'rule of a high priest') and "evidence" (from the Latin 'evidentia', meaning 'proof'). In this context, it refers to the ranking system used to classify the strength of evidence provided by scientific research.
Description
The Hierarchy of Evidence is often represented as a pyramid, with the highest quality evidence at the top and the lowest at the bottom. The levels, from highest to lowest, are typically represented as follows:
- Systematic reviews and Meta-analysises
- Randomized controlled trials
- Cohort studies
- Case control studies
- Cross-sectional studies
- Case reports and series
- Expert opinion and anecdotal reports
Each level in the hierarchy provides a different type of evidence, with the quality and reliability of the evidence increasing as one moves up the hierarchy.
Related Terms
- Evidence-based medicine
- Systematic review
- Meta-analysis
- Randomized controlled trial
- Cohort study
- Case control study
- Cross-sectional study
- Case report
- Case series
- Anecdotal evidence
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Hierarchy of evidence
- Wikipedia's article - Hierarchy of evidence
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