Context: An evidence-based scientific discipline should produce, consume and disseminate credible evidence. Unfortunately, mistakes are sometimes made, resulting in the production, consumption and dissemination of invalid or otherwise questionable evidence. In the worst cases, such questionable evidence achieves the status of accepted knowledge. There is, therefore, the need to ensure that producers and consumers seek to identify and rectify such situations. Objectives: To raise awareness of the negative impact of misinterpreting evidence and of propagating that misinterpreted evidence, and to provide guidance on how to improve on the type of issues identified.Methods: We use a case-based approach to present and analyse the production, consumption and dissemination of evidence. The cases are based on the literature and our professional experience. These cases illustrate a range of challenges confronting evidence-based researchers as well as the consequences to research when invalid evidence is not corrected in a timely way.Results: We use the cases and the challenges to formulate a framework and a set of recommendations to help the community in producing and consuming credible evidence.Conclusions: We encourage the community to collectively remain alert to the emergence and dissemination of invalid, or otherwise questionable, evidence, and to proactively seek to identify and rectify it.
展开▼
