Levels of Evidence Flow Chart

Does the article

discuss one study or
multiple studies??

One study Multiple

studies
Was there a control
group and one or Did the study analyze
more intervention RCT's and/or propose
groups? clinical practice
guidelines?
Yes No
Does the study Yes No
compare two or
Were individuals Systematic review,
more groups over Systematic
randomly assigned to meta-analysis of
time? review of
groups? RCT's; Evidence-
Yes descriptive
No based clinical
and/or
practice guidelines
qualitative
Yes No Does the study Level 1
Was the study studies
retrospectively compare descriptive or
Randomly Controlled two groups using existing Level 5
qualitative?
Controlled Trial Trial data as control?
(RCT) Level 3
Level 2 Yes No
Yes
A single
No descriptive or Was the article
Case Control qualitative
Study the opinion of
Does the study study an expert?
Level 4 compare the Level 6
outcomes of two Yes
groups over time?

Yes Expert
opinion
Cohort Level 7
study
Level 4
Description
Title: Levels of Evidence Flow Chart

Steps to Randomly Controlled Trial (RCT) Level 2

1. Does the article discuss one study or multiple studies?
2. If the answer is one study then question: Was there a control group and one or more intervention groups?
3. If the answer is yes then question: Were individuals randomly assigned to groups?
4. If the answer is yes then it is a Randomly Controlled Trial (RCT) Level 2.

Steps to Controlled Trial Level 3

1. Does the article discuss one study or multiple studies?
2. If the answer is one study then question: Was there a control group and one or more intervention groups?
3. If the answer is yes then question: Were individuals randomly assigned to groups?
4. If the answer is no then it is a Controlled Trial Level 3.

Steps to Case Control Study Level 4

1. Does the article discuss one study or multiple studies?
2. If the answer is one study then question: Was there a control group and one or more intervention groups?
3. If the answer is no then question: Does the study compare two or more groups over time?
4. If the answer is yes then question: Does the study retrospectively compare two groups using existing data as control?
5. If the answer is yes then it is a Case Control Study Level 4.

Steps to Cohort Study Level 4

1. Does the article discuss one study or multiple studies?
2. If the answer is one study then question: Was there a control group and one or more intervention groups?
3. If the answer is no then question: Does the study compare two or more groups over time?
4. If the answer is yes then question: Does the study retrospectively compare two groups using existing data as control?
5. If the answer is no then question: Does the study compare the outcomes of two groups over time?
6. If the answer is yes then it is a Cohort Study Level 4.
Description continued
Title: Levels of Evidence Flow Chart
Steps to Single Descriptive or Qualitative Study Level 6
1. Does the article discuss one study or multiple studies?
2. If the answer is one study then question: Was there a control group and one or more intervention groups?
3. If the answer is no then question: Does the study compare two or more groups over time?
4. If the answer is no then question: Was the study descriptive or qualitative?
5. If the answer is yes then it is a Single Descriptive or Qualitative Study Level 6.

Steps to Expert Opinion Level 7

1. Does the article discuss one study or multiple studies?
2. If the answer is one study then question: Was there a control group and one or more intervention groups?
3. If the answer is no then question: Does the study compare two or more groups over time?
4. If the answer is no then question: Was the study descriptive or qualitative?
5. If the answer is no then question: Was the article the opinion of an expert?
6. If the answer is yes then in it an Expert Opinion Level 7.

Steps to Systematic Review, Meta-Analysis of RCT’s; Evidence Based Clinical Practice Guidelines Level 1.
1. Does the article discuss one study or multiple studies?
2. If the answer is multiple studies then question: Did the study analyze RCT’s and/or propose clinical practice guidelines?
3. If the answer is yes then it is a Systematic Review, Meta-Analysis of RCT’s; Evidence Based Clinical Practice Guidelines Level 1.

Steps to Systematic Review of Descriptive and/or Qualitative Studies Level 5.

1. Does the article discuss one study or multiple studies?
2. If the answer is multiple studies then question: Did the study analyze RCT’s and/or propose clinical practice guidelines?
3. If the answer is no then it is a Systematic Review of Descriptive and/or Qualitative Studies Level 5.

Lansing Community College Library May 2019