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Alaska Medical Library

Evidence Based Medicine Overview

What is Evidence Based Practice (EBP)

A problem-solving approach to clinical practice that integrates the conscientious use of the best available research evidence, clinical expertise, and patient preferences and values.


The 5 Steps in the EBP Process:

  1. Ask the clinical question.
  2. Collect the most relevant and best evidence.
  3. Critically appraise and synthesize the evidence.
  4. Integrate all evidence with personal clinical expertise, as well as patient preferences and values, and make a practice decision or change.
  5. Evaluate the practice decison or change.

14 Review Types

Not all systematic reviews are of the same rigor and quality. The article provides an analysis of 14 review types and the methodologies uses by each type.


Well-Built Clinical Queries

"Background" Questions
Depending on your experience, you may first need to ask background questions to acquire general knowledge about a condition or thing. These commonly take the form of a question: who, what, where, when, how, why and a verb. Example: What causes SARS?

"Foreground" Questions use PICOS to seek specific knowledge (causal or predictive) to assist in clinical decisions or actions.


PICOS

Using PICOS to Ask Your Question

PICOS is an mnemonic for Patient Population or Problem, Intervention (treatment/test), Comparison (group or treatment), Outcomes, and Setting or Study type. PICOT is also used where the T stands for Time.

Various templates and web pages have been developed to help you frame your question. Using the Melynik and Fineout-Overhold model, fill in the blanks with information from your clinical scenario:

THERAPY
In____, what is the effect of _____on _____ compared with ______?

ETIOLOGY
Are _ who have __ at __ risk for/of __ compared with __ with/without __?

DIAGNOSIS OR DIAGNOSTIC TEST
Are (Is) ______ more accurate in diagnosing _____ compared with ______?

PREVENTION
For ___ does the use of ____ reduce the future risk of ___ compared with __?

PROGNOSIS
Does _____ influence ______ in patients who have _______?

MEANING
How do _____ diagnosed with _____ perceive ___________?

Above information from "Evidence-based practice in nursing & healthcare: a guide to best practice" by Bernadette M. Melnyk and Ellen Fineout-Overholt. 2005, page 31.

Research Design

Choose the Best Research Design to Answer the Question

Many different research designs exist, each with a specific purpose and with strengths and limitations. Try to choose the most rigorous one for your question. Below are two editorials that concisely outline this process. Access both online at the Consortium Library, or request them from AML.

Identifying the best research design to fit the question. Part 1. Quantitative Designs By Jackie Roberts. Evidence-Based Nursing, 2(1):4-6, 1999.

Identifying the best research design to fit the question. Part 2. Qualitative Designs. By Jenny Ploeg. Evidence-Based Nursing, 2(2):36-37, 1999.

Hierarchy of Questions

Rating System for the Hierarchy of Evidence: Quantitative Questions

  • Level 1: Systematic review or meta-analysis of all relevant randomized controlled trials (RCTs), or evidence-based clinical practice guidelines based on systematic reviews of RCTs
  • Level 2: Evidence from at least one well-designed RCT
  • Level 3: Evidence from a well-designed controlled trial without randomization
  • Level 4: Evidence from well-designed case-control and cohort studies
  • Level 5: Evidence from systematic reviews of descriptive and qualitative studies
  • Level 6: Evidence from a single descriptive or qualitative study
  • Level 7: Evidence from the opinion of authorities and / or reports of expert committees
Above information from "Evidence-based practice in nursing & healthcare: a guide to best practice" by Bernadette M. Melnyk and Ellen Fineout-Overholt. 2005, page 10.

Selected Websites

Resources at AML

Resources

  • AML Library Services
    • Expert database searches, current awareness searches sent to your email regularly, articles from our collection or obtained from other libraries, training, etc. See the AML website for details.
  • Peer Reviewed Databases
    Search freely available databases listed below by clicking their name. Request a librarian-mediated search for databases without a link:

    1. PubMed (some fulltext)
    2. CINAHL (available at UAA)
    3. Cochrane Library - (free access to abstracts only)
    4. Academic Search Premier
    5. PsychInfo (available at UAA)
    6. ERIC (available at UAA)

  • Journals
    • Evidence-based care, 2012-
    • Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine, 2004-
    • Evidence based nursing, 1998-
    • International journal of evidence-based healthcare, 2005-
    • Journal of evidence-based complementary & alternative medicine, 2011-
    • Journal of evidence-based integrative medicine, 2018-
    • Journal of evidence based medicine and healthcare, 2014-
    • Journal of evidence-based psychotherapies, 2014-
    • Worldviews on evidence-based nursing, 2004-



Measuring Research Outcomes