On the Meaning of Medical Evidence Hierarchies
Evidence hierarchies are investigative strategies ordered with regard to the claimed strength of evidence. They have been used for a couple of decades in EBM, particularly in assessing evidence for treatment recommendations, but remain controversial. An under-investigated question is what the order...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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University Library System, University of Pittsburgh
2021-04-01
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| Series: | Philosophy of Medicine |
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| Online Access: | https://philmed.pitt.edu/philmed/article/view/31 |
| _version_ | 1811307357912694784 |
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| author | Jesper Jerkert |
| author_facet | Jesper Jerkert |
| author_sort | Jesper Jerkert |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Evidence hierarchies are investigative strategies ordered with regard to the claimed strength of evidence. They have been used for a couple of decades in EBM, particularly in assessing evidence for treatment recommendations, but remain controversial. An under-investigated question is what the order in the hierarchy means. Four interpretations are discussed here. The two most credible are “typically stronger” or “ideally stronger.” The well-known GRADE framework seems to assume some “typically stronger” reading. Even if the interpretation of an evidence hierarchy were established, hierarchies are rather unhelpful for the task of evidence aggregation. Specifying the intended order relation may help to sort out disagreements. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-13T09:02:59Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-26ddbe2275f74f008053dfd96816b23f |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2692-3963 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-13T09:02:59Z |
| publishDate | 2021-04-01 |
| publisher | University Library System, University of Pittsburgh |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Philosophy of Medicine |
| spelling | doaj.art-26ddbe2275f74f008053dfd96816b23f2022-12-22T02:53:04ZengUniversity Library System, University of PittsburghPhilosophy of Medicine2692-39632021-04-012110.5195/pom.2021.3131On the Meaning of Medical Evidence HierarchiesJesper Jerkert0Department of Philosophy and History, Division of Philosophy, KTH Royal Institute of TechnologyEvidence hierarchies are investigative strategies ordered with regard to the claimed strength of evidence. They have been used for a couple of decades in EBM, particularly in assessing evidence for treatment recommendations, but remain controversial. An under-investigated question is what the order in the hierarchy means. Four interpretations are discussed here. The two most credible are “typically stronger” or “ideally stronger.” The well-known GRADE framework seems to assume some “typically stronger” reading. Even if the interpretation of an evidence hierarchy were established, hierarchies are rather unhelpful for the task of evidence aggregation. Specifying the intended order relation may help to sort out disagreements.https://philmed.pitt.edu/philmed/article/view/31evidence-based medicineevidence hierarchystrength of evidencequality of evidenceorder relationevidence aggregationlexicographic orderinggradeceteris paribusrctobservational study |
| spellingShingle | Jesper Jerkert On the Meaning of Medical Evidence Hierarchies Philosophy of Medicine evidence-based medicine evidence hierarchy strength of evidence quality of evidence order relation evidence aggregation lexicographic ordering grade ceteris paribus rct observational study |
| title | On the Meaning of Medical Evidence Hierarchies |
| title_full | On the Meaning of Medical Evidence Hierarchies |
| title_fullStr | On the Meaning of Medical Evidence Hierarchies |
| title_full_unstemmed | On the Meaning of Medical Evidence Hierarchies |
| title_short | On the Meaning of Medical Evidence Hierarchies |
| title_sort | on the meaning of medical evidence hierarchies |
| topic | evidence-based medicine evidence hierarchy strength of evidence quality of evidence order relation evidence aggregation lexicographic ordering grade ceteris paribus rct observational study |
| url | https://philmed.pitt.edu/philmed/article/view/31 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT jesperjerkert onthemeaningofmedicalevidencehierarchies |