As you review the evidence, it is important to know some key concepts and terms that describe the ways that medical literature is categorized.
What is an example of evidence-based research?
Scenario: A nurse notices that many hospitalized patients have trouble sleeping and wonders if playing calming music at bedtime could help. She reviews current research studies to see if music has been shown to improve sleep quality in hospital settings. Based on the evidence she finds, she works with her unit to try a music intervention and measures whether patients sleep better.
Research: The nurse would look for evidence that shows whether calming music improves sleep quality in hospitalized patients. This might include:
Systematic reviews or meta-analyses of studies on music and sleep in clinical settings (highest level of evidence)
Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing music interventions to usual care or other methods
Quasi-experimental studies that examine the effect of music on sleep without full randomization
Qualitative studies exploring patient experiences with music for relaxation or sleep (to understand context or preferences)
Clinical practice guidelines from nursing or medical organizations that include recommendations on non-pharmacological sleep interventions
The nurse would prioritize higher levels of evidence—like systematic reviews or RCTs—but might also use lower-level evidence to support practical implementation or understand patient perspectives.
Quantitative research involves the collection and analysis of numerical data to identify patterns, test relationships, or measure outcomes. It often uses structured tools like surveys, experiments, or clinical trials to gather measurable, objective results that can be analyzed statistically.
Example:
A study that examines the effect of a low-carbohydrate diet on A1C levels in adults with Type 2 diabetes by comparing pre- and post-intervention blood glucose values across 100 participants would use quantitative methods to assess the effectiveness of the diet.
Qualitative research focuses on exploring experiences, perspectives, and meanings through non-numerical data such as interviews, focus groups, or observations. It aims to understand the how and why behind behaviors or experiences, often in rich, detailed ways that cannot be captured through numbers alone.
Example:
A study that explores how adults with Type 2 diabetes feel about managing their condition through diet and exercise—using in-depth interviews to gather insights into their challenges, motivations, and beliefs—would use qualitative methods to understand their lived experiences.