Introduction
What is Evidence-Based Practice?
Evidence Based Practice (EBP) is "the use of best research evidence, along with clinical expertise, available resources, and the patient's preferences to determine the optimal management options in a specific situation" (Liamputtong, 2013, p. 453).
The 5 As
The EBP process is often described as a series of 5 steps. These steps are often given different names but all describe the following:
This main focus of this guide is on Ask & Acquire - formulate an answerable question and find the best evidence for your question.
| Ask | convert your information needs into an answerable clinical question |
| Acquire | find the best evidence to answer your clinical question |
| Appraise | critically appraise the evidence for it validity, impact and applicability |
| Apply | integrate the evidence with clinical expertise, the patient's values and circumstances, and information from the practice context |
| Assess | evaluate the effectiveness and efficiency with which steps 1-4 were carried out and think about ways to improve your performance of them next time |
Hoffmann, T. (2013). Evidence-based practice across the health professions (2nd ed.). Chatswood, N.S.W. : Elsevier Australia, pp.7-11.
Featured textbook
Research and evidence in practiceIntroduction to the use of research-based evidence in professional health-care practice. Written by La Trobe University academics.
Learn more
- Introduction to Evidence Based PracticeSelf paced online tutorial by the Medical Center Library at Duke University and the Health Sciences Library at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Practical evidence-based physiotherapy (3rd ed.) by ISBN: 9780323848398
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