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:
- Ask the clinical question.
- Collect the most relevant and best evidence.
- Critically appraise and synthesize the evidence.
- Integrate all evidence with personal clinical expertise, as well as patient preferences and values, and make a practice decision or change.
- 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.
Levels of Evidence
Quantitative Pyramid showing relative usefulness of different types of evidence to answer cause and effect questions.Qualitative Pyramid showing relative usefulness of different types of evidence to answer meaning or experience questions.
