What is the impact of higher quality research on our confidence in the estimate of effect?
Higher quality research is likely to have an important impact on our confidence in the estimate of effect and may well change the estimate. It can provide a stronger recommendation, with very low or high quality evidence depending on the benefits, risks and burdens of the effect. In cases of very low quality evidence, we have very little confidence in the effect estimate, while in cases of high quality evidence, we are very confident that the true effect lies close to that of the estimate of the effect. However, the best action may still differ depending on the circumstances or values of the patients or society.