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Evidence Based Practice

Information to help find and appraise evidence-based resources.

What is Evidence Based Practice?

Evidence based practice (EBP)  is the judicious use of the best current evidence in making decisions about the care of the individual patient.  

EBP also integrates clinical expertise and takes patient desires, values, and needs into consideration.

Interested in learning more about EBP? Duke University Medical Center Library has produced an excellent EBP tutorial.

EBP Image Source:  Blevins, Amy.  "What is Evidence-Based Practice?"  University of Iowa.  2010.  Used with Permission.

Sackett DL, Straus SE, Richardson WS, et. al.  Evidence-Based Medicine: How to Practice and Teach EBM.  Edinburgh: Churchill Livingstone, 2000.

Introduction to Evidence-Based Practice.  Tutorial.  UNC-Chapel Hill.  2014. 

Five Steps of EBP

Evidence-based practice consists of five steps:

  1. Ask  a searchable clinical question;

  2. Find the best evidence to answer the question;

  3. Appraise the evidence;

  4. Apply the evidence with clinical expertise, taking the patient's wants/needs into consideration;

  5. Evaluate the effectiveness and efficiency of the process.

Use the tabs of this LibGuide to learn:

  • how to ask a searchable clinical question;
  • what to look for;
  • where to search for the best evidence;
  • how to appraise the evidence you find.

Source: Strauss, S. E.  Evidence-Based Medicine: How to Practice and Teach EBM.  New York: Churchill Livingstone, 2005.