Types of evidence to inform clinical practice

Use these pages to help identify sources of information by level of evidence.

General search resources (various levels of evidence)

NHS Evidence

NHS Evidence provides free access to clinical and non-clinical information - local, regional, national and international.  Information includes evidence, guidance and government policy.

TRIP (Turning Research into Practice)

The TRIP database is a clinical search tool offering access to evaluated resources including evidence-based resources and clinical guidelines

NHS healthcare databases

Searching healthcare databases is a good way of finding journal articles, conference papers and sometimes reports or book chapters on specific topics for clinical patient care. See our healthcare databases page for information on specific healthcare databases. 

Specific levels of evidence

Levels of evidence is a ranking system used in evidence-based medicine to describe the strength of the results measured in a clinical trial or research study.

Systematic Reviews (or meta-analyses)

Randomised Controlled Trials (RCTs)

Evidence Synopses (summary of evidence including clinical "bottom line".)

Guidelines 

What is evidence based practice?

"Evidence based clinical practice is an approach to decision making in which the clinician uses the best evidence available, in consultation with the patient, to decide upon the option which suits that patient best."

Source: Muir Gray JA. (1997) Evidence-based healthcare: how to make health policy and management decisions.  London: Churchill Livingstone.  

For further information on how to keep up-to-date with health resources, visit our current awareness page.

If you require training on or assistance with any of these resources, contact us or visit our training page.