Advanced Levels Of Clinical Inquiry And Systematic Reviews

Evidence Levels

Quality Guides

Level I Experimental study, randomized controlled trial (RCT) Systematic review of RCTs, with or without meta-analysis

A High quality: Consistent, generalizable results; sufficient sample size for the study design; adequate control; definitive conclusions; consistent recommendations based on comprehensive literature review that includes thorough reference to scientific evidence

B Good quality: Reasonably consistent results; sufficient sample size for the study

design; some control, fairly definitive conclusions; reasonably consistent recommendations based on fairly comprehensive literature review that includes some reference to scientific evidence

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C Low quality or major flaws: Little evidence with inconsistent results; insufficient

sample size for the study design; conclusions cannot be drawn

Level II Quasi-experimental study Systematic review of a combination of RCTs and quasi- experimental, or quasi-experimental studies only, with or without meta-analysis Level III Non-experimental study Systematic review of a combination of RCTs, quasi-experimental and non-experimental studies, or non-experimental studies only, with or without meta-analysis Qualitative study or systematic review with or without a meta- synthesis Advanced Levels Of Clinical Inquiry And Systematic Reviews

Johns Hopkins Nursing Evidence-Based Practice Appendix C: Evidence Level and Quality Guide

© The Johns Hopkins Hospital/Johns Hopkins University.  May not be used or reprinted without permission.                               Page 2

 

Evidence Levels

Quality Guides

Level IV Opinion of respected authorities and/or nationally recognized expert committees/consensus panels based on scientific evidence Includes:  Clinical practice guidelines  Consensus panels

A High quality: Material officially sponsored by a professional, public, private organization, or government agency; documentation of a systematic literature search strategy; consistent results with sufficient numbers of well-designed studies; criteria-based evaluation of overall scientific strength and quality of included studies and definitive conclusions; national expertise is clearly evident; developed or revised within the last 5 years

B Good quality: Material officially sponsored by a professional, public, private

organization, or government agency; reasonably thorough and appropriate systematic literature search strategy; reasonably consistent results, sufficient numbers of well-designed studies; evaluation of strengths and limitations of included studies with fairly definitive conclusions; national expertise is clearly evident; developed or revised within the last 5 years

C Low quality or major flaws: Material not sponsored by an official organization or

agency; undefined, poorly defined, or limited literature search strategy; no evaluation of strengths and limitations of included studies, insufficient evidence with inconsistent results, conclusions cannot be drawn; not revised within the last 5 years Advanced Levels Of Clinical Inquiry And Systematic Reviews

 

 

Johns Hopkins Nursing Evidence-Based Practice Appendix C: Evidence Level and Quality Guide

© The Johns Hopkins Hospital/Johns Hopkins University.  May not be used or reprinted without permission.                               Page 3

Level V Based on experiential and non-research evidence Includes:  Literature reviews  Quality improvement, program or financial evaluation  Case reports  Opinion of nationally recognized experts(s) based on

experiential evidence

 

Organizational Experience:

A High quality: Clear aims and objectives; consistent results across multiple settings; formal quality improvement, financial or program evaluation methods used; definitive conclusions; consistent recommendations with thorough reference to scientific evidence

B Good quality: Clear aims and objectives; consistent results in a single setting;

formal quality improvement or financial or program evaluation methods used; reasonably consistent recommendations with some reference to scientific evidence

C Low quality or major flaws: Unclear or missing aims and objectives; inconsistent

results; poorly defined quality improvement, financial or program evaluation methods; recommendations cannot be made

Literature Review, Expert Opinion, Case Report, Community Standard, Clinician Experience, Consumer Preference:

A High quality: Expertise is clearly evident; draws definitive conclusions; provides scientific rationale; thought leader(s) in the field

B Good quality: Expertise appears to be credible; draws fairly definitive conclusions;

provides logical argument for opinions C Low quality or major flaws: Expertise is not discernable or is dubious; conclusions Advanced Levels Of Clinical Inquiry And Systematic Reviews

cannot be drawn