What is Evidence Medicine OR Evidence-based practice?
Evidence-based medicine (EBM) and Evidence based practice (EBP) has many definitions. A widely cited definition is adapted from this definition of Evidence based medicine (EBM):
"the conscientious, explicit and judicious use of current best evidence in making decisions about the care of individual patients. The practice of evidence-based medicine means integrating individual clinical expertise with the best available external clinical evidence from systematic research" (Sackett et al, 1996)
In nursing the approach has come from their own professional realm and and the need to integrate this with the patient's preferences, which has been called Evidence-based practice (EBP)
"an approach to decision making in which the clinician uses the best evidence available, in consultation with the patient, to decide upon the option which suits the patient best" (Muir Gray, 1997)
The practice of Evidence-Based health is generally based on five fundamental steps.
Step 1: Formulating a well-built question
Step 2: Identifying articles and other evidence-based resources that answer the question (Finding the evidence)
Step 3: Critically appraising the evidence to assess its validity
Step 4: Applying the evidence
Step 5: Re-evaluating the application of evidence and areas for improvement
Levels and quality of evidence
Evidence based medicine: What it is and what it isn’t, 1996 Sackett, D. L., Rosenberg, W. M. C., Gray, J. A. M., Haynes, R. B., & Richardson, W. S. BMJ, 312(7023),71–72. Downloaded from Abubakar, Ibrahim. (2024). STAGES OF EVIDENCE BASED PRACTICE IN PHYSIOTHERAPY. 10.5772/intechopen.1002776.
EBM - what it is and learn more
(Learn more about Evidenced Medicine by selecting the image. Part of Evidence-based medicine (EBM) toolkit )
EBP - Nursing evidence
Johns Hopkins Evidence-Based Practice Model for Nursing and Healthcare Professionals
Johns Hopkins evidence-based practice for nurses and healthcare professionals: Model and guidelines, 2021
Dang, D., Dearholt, S. L., Bissett, K., Ascenzi, J., & Whalen, M. (2021).Sigma Theta Tau. (Resource can be downloaded with a request form)
Understanding Evidence Levels in Evidence-Based Medicine: A Guide for Healthcare Professionals, 2024
(Learn about EBM to understand the hierarchy of evidence and for health professionals to make informed clinical choices. Available through Research Gate with a free subscription).