The following links provide information on defining and identifying types of medical research studies (also referred to as levels of evidence):
Clinical Information Access Portal - Levels of Evidence
Article: Using Meta-analyses for Comparative Effectiveness Research
EBM is the acronym for "Evidence Based Medicine". The British Medical Journal defines EBM as "the conscientious, explicit, and judicious use of current best evidence in making decisions about the care of individual patients. The practice of evidence-based medicine means integrating individual clinical expertise with the best available external clinical evidence from systematic research."
The following links provide additional information and explanation of EBM:
UIC University Library - Evidence Based Medicine
Evidence Based Medicine: An Oral History (JAMA Network Video)
| Research or Evidence | Definition & Example |
| Meta-analysis |
Analysis of data from a number of independent studies of the same subject in order to determine overall trends and statistical significance. |
| Systematic Review |
An exhaustive and comprehensive review of research and studies (clinical trials) on a particular health related topic. All relevant results are combined and summarized into one published review. |
| Randomized Control Trial |
(RCT) is a scientific study that randomly assigns participants into a control group to determine whether a cause-effect relationship exists between treatment and outcome. |
| Cohort Study |
A longitudinal study where patients (participants) with a similar health condition are followed over time and compared with another group of patients not affected by the same condition. |
| Cross-Sectional Study |
Observing and collecting data from an entire population at a defined time. Results may be used to describe features of a population, prevalence of a health condition or cause and effect of a particular disease. |
| Case Study |
A Case Study is an article that documents an individual case (patient) condition. It is generally used to identify new trends or unexplained conditions or diseases. |