LibGuides: Nursing Research: Evidence-Based Practice

Melnyk, B. M., Fineout-Overholt, E., Stillwell, S. B., & Williamson, K. M. (2010). Evidence-based practice: step by step: the seven steps of evidence-based practice. AJN: The American Journal of Nursing, 110(1), 51-53 | DOI: 10.1097/01.NAJ.0000366056.06605.d2

What is EBP?

There are many definitions of Evidence-Based Practice (EBP). It is the integration of the best research evidence, clinical expertise and patient needs that will result in the best patient outcomes. EBP is an umbrella term that covers evidence-based medicine, evidence-based nursing, evidence-based public health, evidence-based dentistry, etc. Each specialty, however, may have their own approach to implementation.

From a nursing perspective, Melnyk, Fineout-Overholt, Stillwell & Williamson (2010) define evidence-based practice as "a problem-solving approach to the delivery of health care that integrates best evidence from studies and patient care data with clinician expertise and patient preferences and values."

EBP Resources

AHRQ's National Guideline Clearinghouse
A public resource for summaries of evidence-based clinical practice guidelines. AHRQ is the Agency for Health Care Policy and Research, a part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
Evidence-based Practice Centers
The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) created the Evidence-based Practice Centers (EPCs) in 1997 to conduct evidence reports for the Effective Health Care (EHC) Program.
The Iowa Model Revised: Evidence-Based Practice to Promote Excellence in Health Care
Basing practice on research findings or other evidence is facilitated through The Iowa Model Revised: Evidence-Based Practice to Promote Excellence in Health Care© (Iowa Model). The Iowa Model guides clinical decision-making and EBP process from both the clinician and systems perspectives.

Nursing Research

What is EBP?

Further Reading:

EBP Resources