What is Evidence-Based Practice?
Evidence-Based Practice (EBP) is a thoughtful integration of the best available evidence coupled with clinical expertise and your patient’s wishes.
The goal of EBP is to incorporate research findings into daily patient care with the intent of improving the quality of care for individual patients.
Two journals provide summaries of the best, most current clinical research available: the Journal of Evidence-Based Dental Practice and Evidence-Based Dentistry.
The basic principles of EBP are:
The Focus = ask a focused question, find evidence of the best methods, interventions and practices
The Evidence = find the best evidence, critique the evidence for validity and usefulness, found in the most current professional research literature
The Goal = use the results to access and make decisions about the best outcomes for the individual patient
Step One: Ask a Clinical Question
Using the PICO format can be instructive!
Patient Population
Intervention
Comparison Intervention
Outcome
Types of Questions: Etiology, Diagnostic, Prevention, Prognosis/Prediction, Therapy, Qualitative
Step Two: Acquire the most relevant, most current, best evidence. See Evidence Hierarchy image below.
Step Three: Appraise the evidence.
Step Four: Apply all evidence with clincial experience, patient preferences and values in making a practice decision or change.
Step Five: Access the practice decision or change.
