Table 3 Scoring system used to assess hierarchy of evidence
Category | Score | Hierarchy of evidence |
|---|---|---|
Randomized | 1 | Yes—randomized (includes partial) |
0 | Not randomized | |
Control | 3 | Controlled BACI |
2 | Control | |
1 | Comparator | |
0 | None | |
Study length | 1 | Study length greater than or equal to a year |
0 | Study length less than a year | |
Replicates | 2 | Replicate temporal (includes time series) and spatial |
1 | Replicate temporal or spatial | |
0 | No replicates | |
Study type | 3 | Manipulative study |
2 | Correlative study | |
1 | Monitoring study | |
0 | Sampling study |