Health care practitioners engage in what is called evidence-based practice, or the use of empirical evidence from the primary research literature to make decisions about patient care. However, not all research is created equal, and medical experts often look to the pyramid of evidence, or hierarchy of evidence, to help them determine the quality of the information and its application to their patients.
The pyramid of evidence is also a useful visual demonstrating how research builds upon previous research.
Use the tabs to the left to learn more about the study designs represented on this pyramid and beyond, as well as how to locate each using databases and other search tools.
Hierarchy of Evidence. Duke University Medical Center and Archives. CC BY-SA 4.0
NOTE: Critiques of the evidence-based pyramid are well-documented and have resulted in several proposed alternatives (see the evidence trapezoid or the evidence funnel, for example).