"EBM is 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 ... thoughtful identification and compassionate use of individual patients' predicaments, rights, and preferences in making clinical decisions about their care”.1
Evidence-Based Medicine (EBM) or Evidence-Based Practice (EBP) involves a cycle of enquiry:
Source: Duke University Medical Center Library
Steps of EBM
It begins with a patient dilemma, or problem - then a question is asked - the literature is searched to acquire information- the results are appraised - then applied to the specific question and patient.
Barriers | Solutions |
---|---|
Uncritical acceptance of 'usual practice' | Learn to question dogma |
Failure to recognise and ask clinical questions | Practice recognising and asking clinical questions |
Perceived lack of time | Understanding the resources available to find answers quickly and effectively |
Lack of EBP skills | Learn EBP skills |
Lack of access to information resources | The Internet removes this barrier, as some good quality resources are freely available |
Applying the right answer to the wrong patient | Remember the final step in EBP is to consider the individual patient, their values, and your practice setting |
Lack of knowledge and support from colleagues for an EBP approach | Explain, teach, and model EBP in your practice |
Source: Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Western Australia. Barriers to using Evidence Based Practice (EBP) to answer clinical questions [Internet]. 2015 [updated 2015 May 11; cited 2017 Jun 21]. Available from: http://www.meddent.uwa.edu.au/teaching/acq.
Published on Dec 31, 2010