Relevance

Definition: *Relevance* refers to the degree to which information, data, or arguments are directly related to the specific topic, question, or problem at hand, contributing meaningfully to understanding, decision-making, or action.

• Directly connected to the objective or context.
• Enhances clarity, focus, or impact.
• Avoids digressions or unrelated detail.
• Often judged by contextual appropriateness and timeliness.

• In research: Does the study address a meaningful question or gap?
• In clinical practice: Does this intervention apply to the patient population?
• In education: Does the content support the learning objectives?
• In publishing: Does the article contribute new, significant insight to the field?

• Applicability
• Significance
• Utility
• Validity
• Contextual fit

• Irrelevance – information that is unrelated, distracting, or off-topic.

• An article about the early history of neurosurgery may be of low relevance to current clinical decision-making unless it provides critical insight into the evolution of techniques or training systems.