Evidence Table & Synthesis Worksheet

An evidence table helps you organize studies in a consistent format so you can compare methods, findings, limitations, and relevance across a body of evidence.

The YourDNP Evidence Table & Synthesis Worksheet combines evidence extraction with space for synthesis. It is designed for DNP-FNP coursework, evidence-based practice assignments, literature reviews, and early DNP project planning.

The format is adaptable. Always follow your course instructions, grading rubric, faculty guidance, and program requirements when determining what information belongs in your evidence table.

What the Worksheet Includes

The worksheet provides space to document:

• Review or practice question
• Population and setting
• Inclusion and exclusion criteria
• Study purpose or research question
• Study design and appraisal approach
• Sample and setting
• Intervention, exposure, or comparison
• Measures and outcomes
• Key findings
• Limitations
• Applicability to the practice question
• Overall characteristics of the body of evidence
• Themes and patterns across studies
• Areas of agreement and disagreement
• Evidence gaps
• Evidence-informed conclusions

The evidence table is formatted in landscape orientation to provide enough room to compare studies without reducing each article to a few words.

From Evidence Table to Synthesis

Entering studies into a table is only part of an evidence review.

An evidence table helps organize individual studies. Synthesis examines the body of evidence across those studies.

Look for patterns such as whether studies reach similar conclusions, whether findings differ across populations or settings, how methodological limitations affect confidence in the evidence, and how well the evidence applies to the practice problem you are examining.

The synthesis sections of this worksheet are designed to help make that transition.

Download the Evidence Table & Synthesis Worksheet

Blank Worksheet

Use the blank version to organize studies as you review the literature and begin comparing findings across your evidence base.

Completed Example

The completed example demonstrates how several published studies can be entered into the evidence table and then examined together for patterns, limitations, applicability, and an evidence-informed conclusion.

It is provided as an instructional example and should not be submitted as original academic work.

Use It With the Critical Appraisal Worksheet

Evidence extraction and critical appraisal serve different purposes.

The evidence table captures the information needed to compare studies across a review. The Critical Appraisal Worksheet provides more space to examine the methodological strengths, limitations, results, and applicability of an individual study.

→ Use the Critical Appraisal Worksheet

After appraising individual studies, return to the evidence table and synthesis sections to consider what the evidence supports as a whole.

Building Your Evidence Review

If you are still developing your clinical question or literature search, these YourDNP resources can help with the earlier steps:

→ How to Write a Strong PICO Question

→ Evidence-Based Practice & Research

→ Explore the Resource Library

A well-developed evidence table should make synthesis easier to see. By the time the table is complete, you should be able to explain what the evidence collectively supports, where uncertainty remains, and how confidently it can be applied to the practice question.