Review of Hierarchy of Research Evidence
The correct execution, presentation, and validity of research evidence have always been a topical issue in the process of conducting an objective study. To systematize, differentiate, and categorize this aspect of research, the scientific community has created seven levels and a hierarchy of research evidence (Fain, 2017). This categorical model is used in all conventional scientific fields, especially in those where evidence’s strength and credibility directly affect human lives, namely medicine and cardiovascular diseases such as cerebrovascular accidents and deep vein thrombosis (DVT).
About The Article by Khan et al.
The academic paper by Khan and others is a qualitative and illustrative example of research where evidence of several levels of strength is applied. The first type of proof one can find in their work is “systematic reviews … of all relevant materials” (Fain, 2017, p. 70). According to Khan et al. (2017), they “conducted a systematic review of all published studies until June 2017 examining DVT prophylaxis in acute stroke” (p. 2). Minor elements of such a methodological technique as meta-analysis are seen in the advisory and concluding sections on DVT prevention and prophylaxis.
The research evidence of the second and third levels is also present in this article, but only indirectly. Their paper is a systematic literature review by design, so the researchers retell and describe randomized clinical trials (RCT), well-designed and randomized ones done by other scientists (Khan et al., 2017). The included RCTs mainly involve patients with DVT and venous thromboembolism and those who have experienced an acute stroke (Khan et al., 2017). Scholars’ main intention was to assess the efficacy of medications such as low-molecular-weight and unfractionated heparins (Khan et al., 2017). Based on the developed systematic meta-information, they then present a summarized recommendation.
References
Fain, J. A. (2017). Reading, understanding, and applying nursing research (5th ed.). F.A. Davis Company.
Khan, M. T., Ikram, A., Saeed, O., Afridi, T., Sila, C. A., Smith, M. S., Irshad, K., & Shuaib, A. (2017). Deep vein thrombosis in acute stroke-a systemic review of the literature. Cureus, 9(12), 1-12.