1. Strength of the evidence: The quality of the evidence is determined by the methods used to minimize bias within a study design...
2. Relevance of the evidence: How appropriate is the outcome measure for the healthcare problem, and how useful is it in measuring the benefits?
3. Size of the effect: How high is the likelihood that the effect of the treatment will achieve clinically relevant benefits (or harms)?
4. Lower levels of evidence are provided by:
5. Confidence interval (CI):
Even studies that are perfectly designed and carried out may show variable results because of the play of chance. CI covers the likely range of the true effect...
* This information has been extracted from the Cochrane Collaboration website. To see the complete document:
Tools available for your use (linked within the book)
Hierarchy of Evidence for Intervention/Treatment Questions
(In descending order)
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Level I |
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| Level II | Evidence obtained from well-designed RCTs | |
| Level III | Evidence obtained from well-designed controlled trials without randomization | |
| Level IV |
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| Level V |
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| Level VI |
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| Level VII | Evidence from the opinion of authorities and/or reports of expert communities |
*Table taken from Evidence-Based Practice in Nursing and Healthcare: A Guide to Best Practice, 2011, page 12.
Print Volume, 4th floor
Call Number, WY 100.7 M527e 211
Hierarchies of evidence from the CEBM. The three documents linked here should be used together to provide a better understanding.