BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: There is considerable actual and potential waste in research. Using evidence-based research (EBR) can ensure the value of a new study. The aim of this article, the third in a series, is to describe an EBR approach to putting research results into context. STUDY DESIGN AND SETTING: EBR is the use of prior research in a systematic and transparent way to inform a new study so that it is answering questions that matter in a valid, efficient, and accessible manner. In this third and final article of a series, we describe how to use the context of existing evidence to reach and present a trustworthy and useful conclusion when reporting results from a new clinical study. RESULTS: We describe a method, the EBR approach, that by using a systematic and transparent consideration of earlier similar studies when interpreting and presenting results from a new original study will ensure usefulness of the conclusion. CONCLUSION: Using an EBR approach will improve the usefulness of a clinical study by providing the context to draw more valid conclusions and explicit information about new research needs.
10.1016/j.jclinepi.2020.07.021
Journal article
J Clin Epidemiol
23/09/2020
Clinical health research, Clinical trials, Evidence synthesis, Evidence-based research, Medical ethics, Research ethics, Systematic review