What Is Evidence-Based Practice?

Abstract

Local, national, and international efforts have led to important developments in evidence-based practice and delivery of evidence-based health care. In this column, we plan to share information that will support adoption of EBP to improve outcomes for patients, families, clinicians, and organizations. Our goal is to share current developments soreaderscangainadditionalknowledgeandskillstoapply EBP principles. Thisfirst column will describe the linkages and differences between EBP and related terms. Watch for information describing the EBP process and application in perianesthesia nursing in upcoming columns. What is evidence-based practice? The term evidencebased practice comes from a movement in the United Kingdom that occurred during the same time US nurses werefocusingon research utilization. Research utilization is the application of research findings in practice. EBP uses research findings but incorporates additional concepts. Evidence-based nursing is defined by Sigma Theta Tau International as ‘‘. the process of shared decisionmaking between practitioner, patient, and others significant to them, based on research evidence, the patient’s experiences and preferences, clinical expertise or knowhow, and other available robust sources of information.’’ 1 Many others have shared similar definitions based on Sackett et al’s work, defining EBP as health care delivery based on the integration of the best research evidence available combined with clinical expertise, in accordance with the preferences of the patient and family. 2,3