¿Qué es la pirámide de la evidencia?

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Bibliographic Details
Title: ¿Qué es la pirámide de la evidencia?
Alternate Title: What is the Evidence Pyramid?
Authors: Almiray Soto, Alma Lidia1, Clark, Patricia2, Merino Frutis, Damaris Victoria2, Sánchez Méndez, Lucía2, Guagnelli Martínez, Miguel Ángel2 mguagnelli@gmail.com
Source: Revista de la Facultad de Medicina de la UNAM. May/Jun2025, Vol. 68 Issue 3, p30-39. 10p.
Subjects: CAREER development, EXPERT evidence, MEDICAL personnel, ARTIFICIAL intelligence, EVIDENCE-based medicine
Abstract (English): Ongoing professional development is essential for healthcare providers to enhance clinical decision-making based on scientific evidence. Every year, millions of studies are published, making it crucial for professionals to develop the skills needed to critically assess the validity and applicability of this vast body of information. The evidence pyramid is a widely used tool that classifies different types of studies according to their scientific rigor, placing systematic reviews and meta-analyses at the top, as they are considered the most reliable sources of evidence. At the base are studies with lower levels of evidence, such as case reports and expert opinions. However, even the most robust studies have limitations that must be carefully evaluated. Evidence-based medicine (EBM), which emerged in the 1980s, seeks to integrate the best available scientific evidence with clinical expertise and patient values. The traditional evidence pyramid has evolved over time, addressing the limitations of existing studies and proposing dynamic approaches to more accurately assess the quality of evidence. The GRADE system and recent adaptations of the pyramid have strengthened the process of critical appraisal, enabling more informed and less biased clinical decisions. The adoption of evidence-based practices requires healthcare professionals to develop competencies in the use of tools for critically evaluating scientific information. Additionally, the incorporation of new technologies--such as artificial intelligence for data management--will play a key role in enhancing the quality of clinical practice and patient care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Abstract (Spanish): La actualización continua es esencial para que los profesionales de la salud mejoren la toma de decisiones clínicas basadas en evidencia científica. Cada año se publican millones de estudios, lo que hace fundamental que los profesionales adquieran las habilidades necesarias para evaluar críticamente la validez y aplicabilidad de esta vasta información. La pirámide de la evidencia es una herramienta ampliamente utilizada para clasificar los diferentes tipos de estudios según su rigor científico, situando en la cima a las revisiones sistemáticas y los metaanálisis, considerados las fuentes más confiables de evidencia. En la base se encuentran los estudios con menor nivel de evidencia, como los reportes de casos y las opiniones de expertos. No obstante, incluso los estudios más robustos presentan limitaciones que deben ser evaluadas cuidadosamente. La medicina basada en evidencia (MBE), surgida en la década de 1980, busca integrar la mejor evidencia científica disponible con la experiencia clínica y los valores del paciente. La pirámide tradicional de la evidencia ha evolucionado, abordando las limitaciones de los estudios existentes y proponiendo enfoques dinámicos para evaluar de forma más precisa la calidad de la evidencia. El sistema GRADE y las recientes adaptaciones de la pirámide han mejorado el proceso de evaluación crítica de los estudios, lo que permite tomar decisiones clínicas más informadas y con menor riesgo de sesgo. La adopción de prácticas basadas en evidencia requiere que los profesionales de la salud desarrollen competencias en el uso de herramientas para la evaluación crítica de la información científica. Asimismo, la incorporación de nuevas tecnologías --como la inteligencia artificial para la gestión de datos-- desempeñará un papel crucial en la mejora de la calidad de la práctica clínica y de la atención al paciente. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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Database: MedicLatina
Description
Abstract:Ongoing professional development is essential for healthcare providers to enhance clinical decision-making based on scientific evidence. Every year, millions of studies are published, making it crucial for professionals to develop the skills needed to critically assess the validity and applicability of this vast body of information. The evidence pyramid is a widely used tool that classifies different types of studies according to their scientific rigor, placing systematic reviews and meta-analyses at the top, as they are considered the most reliable sources of evidence. At the base are studies with lower levels of evidence, such as case reports and expert opinions. However, even the most robust studies have limitations that must be carefully evaluated. Evidence-based medicine (EBM), which emerged in the 1980s, seeks to integrate the best available scientific evidence with clinical expertise and patient values. The traditional evidence pyramid has evolved over time, addressing the limitations of existing studies and proposing dynamic approaches to more accurately assess the quality of evidence. The GRADE system and recent adaptations of the pyramid have strengthened the process of critical appraisal, enabling more informed and less biased clinical decisions. The adoption of evidence-based practices requires healthcare professionals to develop competencies in the use of tools for critically evaluating scientific information. Additionally, the incorporation of new technologies--such as artificial intelligence for data management--will play a key role in enhancing the quality of clinical practice and patient care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
ISSN:00261742