Improved Patient Outcomes Best Available Clinical Evidence Patient’s Values & Expectations Individual Clinical Expertise
Hierarchy of Evidence Strength of Evidence
1 Ask Questions 5 Evaluate 2 Search 4 Implement 3 Critically Appraise
Cause Effect / Outcome Other Factor Independent Variable Effect / Outcome Dependent Variable Other Factor Confounding Variable
Experimental Significance Practical Statistical Significance “Are the effects observed due to the changing levels of the factors real or due to random change?” Practical Significance “If a factor does have a statistically significant effect, then is the degree of effect practically useful given what we are trying to accomplish?”
Reliable Not Valid Low Validity Low Reliability Not Reliable Not Valid Reliable Valid
Measures of Central Tendency Mean, Median, Mode Mode Median Mean Measures of Central Tendency
Standard Deviation G = 68% G + B = 95% G + B + R = 99% 34% 34% 13.6% 2.15% 2.15% Standard Deviation
Patients Randomization Conditions 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10