The "6S" pyramid hierarchy of preappraised evidence developed by DiCenso, Bayley, & Haynes (2009) provides a means to help nurse consumers of research find preappraised evidence for clinical questions. Using this model, which level of evidence would be highest?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The "6S" pyramid hierarchy of preappraised evidence is a framework that helps to categorize evidence-based resources based on their level of rigor and relevance to clinical decision making. The levels of evidence, in order of increasing strength and relevance, are as follows:
Studies: synopses of a single study
Syntheses: systematic reviews of multiple studies
Synopsis of Synthesis: summaries of systematic reviews
Synopses: brief summaries of individual studies
Summaries: clinical practice guidelines, textbooks, and evidence-based textbooks
Systems: computerized decision support systems
According to this hierarchy, the highest level of evidence is level 5, which includes summaries such as clinical practice guidelines, textbooks, and evidence-based textbooks. These resources are considered the most rigorous and relevant to clinical decision making because they provide a synthesis of the best available evidence, expert opinion, and patient preferences. They are often developed by professional organizations or expert panels and undergo rigorous review and revision to ensure their accuracy and currency.
Therefore, the correct answer is A) Summaries such as clinical practice guidelines.

The "6S" Pyramid Hierarchy of Preappraised Evidence Developed by DiCenso