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Evidence Based Practice: Home

Definition of Evidence Based Practice

EB Practice defined as "the conscientious, explicit and judicious use of current best evidence in making decisions about the care of the individual patient. It means integrating individual clinical expertise with the best available external clinical evidence from systematic research." (Sackett D, 1996)

 

EPB is overlap of best research evidence, clinical expertise, and patient values

EB Practice STEPS

ASSESS

The patient

 

1. Start with the patient -- a clinical problem or question arises out of the care of the patient

ASK

The question (PICO)

 

2. Construct a well built clinical question (PICO) derived from the case 

ACQUIRE

The resource

 

3. Select the appropriate resource(s) and conduct a search

APPRAISE

The evaluation

 

4. Appraise that evidence for its validity (closeness to the truth) and applicability (usefulness in clinical practice)

APPLY

The patient

 

5. Return to the patient -- integrate that evidence with clinical expertise, patient preferences and apply it to practice

Self-evaluation

6. Evaluate your performance with this patient

From Connie Schardt, Duke University Medical Center Library and Jill Mayer, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Health Science Library.

Subject Guide

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Betsy Sterner
she/her/hers
Contact:
Elizabeth (Betsy) Sterner, MLIS, MS
Health Sciences & Science Librarian
Assistant Professor
Founders Memorial 311
esterner@niu.edu
815-753-0203

CREDIT DUE

Many thanks to Amanda Avery and The Commonwealth Medical College Library in Scranton, PA for allowing me to copy material and page design.