Level of Certainty* | Description |
---|---|
High | The available evidence usually includes consistent results from well-designed, well-conducted studies in representative primary care populations. These studies assess the effects of the preventive service on health outcomes. This conclusion is therefore unlikely to be strongly affected by the results of future studies. |
Moderate | The available evidence is sufficient to determine the effects of the
preventive service on health outcomes, but confidence in the estimate
is constrained by such factors as:
|
Low | The available evidence is insufficient to assess effects on health
outcomes. Evidence is insufficient because of:
|
* The USPSTF defines certainty as "likelihood that the USPSTF assessment of the net benefit of a preventive service is correct." The net benefit is defined as benefit minus harm of the preventive service as implemented in a general, primary care population. The USPSTF assigns a certainty level based on the nature of the overall evidence available to assess the net benefit of a preventive service.
Current as of June 2007
Internet Citation:
U.S. Preventive Services Task Force Ratings. June 2007. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, Rockville, MD. http://www.ahrq.gov/clinic/uspstf07/ratingsv2.htm
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