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Evidence Based Practice

Summary:

You can hone in on what EBP information to consult by:

1) Determining the resource you need based on what type of information you are seeking:

  • Background Information 
  • Filtered Information 
  • Unfiltered Information 

2) Looking up the corresponding best type of study

Types of EBP Resources

EBP Resources can be divided into 3 major categories:

1.       Background Information Resources

2.       Filtered Information Resources

3.       Unfiltered Information Resources

Image adapted from: http:///www.galter.northwestern.edu/Guides-and-Tutorials/ebm-resources

Acquire: Identify & Select EBP Resources

Unfiltered Information Resources are the original research, and have not been critically reviewed.  Unfiltered resources may provide the most recent information, but it’s up to you to evaluate each study found to determine its validity and applicability. 

Types of Resources:

  • Individual Journal Articles (not critically appraised)
  • Randomized Controlled Trials (RCTs): Research study in which patients are allocated at random to receive one of several clinical interventions
  • Cohort Studies: Look at a disease-free population over a period of time
  • Case-controlled Studies: Compare patients who have a disease or outcome of interest (cases) with patients who do not have the disease or outcome (controls)
  • Case Series/Reports: An article that describes and interprets an individual case

Databases include:

Background Information Resources

Background Information Resources provide broad overviews of medical topics, which help increase your understanding of the topics and acquaint you with the related evidence-based literature.

Types of Resources:

  • Information found in clinical reference books and websites
  • Practice Guidelines & Consensus Statements: Produced by a panel of experts (often published and updated by government or professional associations) that outline best clinical practices to inform health care professionals and patients

Databases include:

 

Filtered Information Resources

Filtered Information Resources are reviews of original research that appraise the quality of studies and often make recommendations for practice. 

Types of Resources:

  • Systematic Reviews: Often written by a panel that provides a comprehensive review of all relevant studies on a particular clinical or health-related topic/question
  • Meta-analysis: a systematic review that combines all the results of all the studies into a single statistical analysis of results.
  • Critically Appraised Topics and Articles: Have been judged on their validity by someone other than the original author

Databases include: