Final answer:
The statement is (1) true; literature that is higher in the levels of evidence hierarchy is more relevant for answering therapy related questions. The hierarchy of evidence ranks research based on quality and relevance for clinical practice, with systematic reviews and randomized controlled trials near the top of this hierarchy.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement that as you progress up the levels of evidence, the literature becomes more relevant for answering therapy related questions is True. In the field of health sciences, the hierarchy of evidence is a system used to rank the strength of research according to the methodological quality and applicability in answering clinical questions. The higher the level, the greater the relevance and potential to influence clinical practice. As one moves up from case reports and expert opinions to randomized controlled trials and systematic reviews, the quality of evidence typically increases. For instance, systematic reviews and meta-analyses are considered to be at the top of the evidence pyramid, offering a comprehensive summary of research on a particular therapy that accounts for variability and bias across individual studies.
Other forms of higher-level evidence include randomized controlled trials (RCTs), which are carefully designed to isolate the effects of a treatment by randomly assigning subjects to treatment or control groups. Cohort studies and case-control studies also provide more reliable evidence than case series or expert opinions, though they are generally considered to be lower in the hierarchy than RCTs. Therefore, to answer therapy related questions effectively, it is important to seek out the highest level of evidence available that is relevant to the question at hand.