The Bottom Line
- You do not need “all evidence.” You need enough evidence to justify a decision.
- Start at the highest appropriate synthesis level, then go down only if necessary.
- Define a stop-rule before you search: what would be “good enough” today?
The evidence stack (simple version)
Think in layers: (1) synthesis (systematic reviews, high-level summaries), (2) key primary studies, (3) background/explanatory material. Time-poor clinicians should spend most of their time at layer 1.
This is how you stay current without burning out
A consistent “good enough” process beats sporadic deep-dives. Your system should be sustainable at 20% energy.
SourceOxford CEBM: How evidence levels map to different question types
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