"Evidence-based thinking is a process by which diverse sources of information (research, theory, practice principles, practice guidelines, and clinical experience) are synthesized by a clinician, expert, or group of experts in order to identify or choose the optimal clinical approach for a given clinical situation".2 (p.1)

How to find the evidence?

Once a question or idea is formed, the next step is to find evidence in the form of literature, data or consensus-based guidelines that help to form an approach to answering the question or understanding the idea.

There are four basic areas where information is sought in an evidence-based approach to questions or ideas.

Data or information can be generated from: Studies which are original reports published in the scholarly literature, Syntheses which are systematic literature reviews of a given topic, Synopses which are study reviews/abstracts with content typically organized in a structured format, often accompanied by a comment, and Systems which are comprehensive data sources of best available evidence from clinical settings.6 (p.57)

             

Levels of evidence

Within evidence-based thinking, generally there are hierarchical levels of scientific evidence that are generally agreed upon and evidence-based frameworks rely on this hierarchy to help determine the quality of the scientific evidence bearing on a particular condition or service.5(p.114), 1

It can be difficult for a researcher to distill the wide variety and level of information being gathered and as with all research and information gathering, variables can be chosen and overlooked depending on researcher bias.

Evidence-based approaches aim to reduce bias, misinformation, stereotyping, discrimination and stigmatization through comprehensive, empirically-based approaches to questions and information.

Despite this aim, even the strongest of empirical evidence can still carry influences of systems of belief and privilege.

Below are some commonly agreed upon levels of evidence in order from highest to lowest level of credibility:

    Continued