Skip to Main Content

Evidence-Based Practice

EBP Five Steps

Evidence-based practice consists of five steps:

1. Ask  a searchable clinical question;
2. Find the best evidence to answer the question;
3. Appraise the evidence;
4. Apply the evidence with clinical expertise, taking the patient's wants/needs into consideration;
5. Evaluate the effectiveness and efficiency of the process.

Use the tabs of this LibGuide to learn:

  • how to ask a searchable clinical question;
  • what to look for;
  • where to search for the best evidence;
  • how to appraise the evidence you find.

Source: Strauss, S. E.  Evidence-Based Medicine: How to Practice and Teach EBM.  New York: Churchill Livingstone, 2005.

Asking your Question

 Fill in the blanks with information from your clinical scenario:

THERAPY
In_______________, what is the effect of ________________on _______________ compared with _________________?


PREVENTION
For ___________ does the use of _________________ reduce the future risk of ____________ compared with ______________?


DIAGNOSIS OR DIAGNOSTIC TEST
Are (Is) ________________ more accurate in diagnosing _______________ compared with ____________?


PROGNOSIS
Does ____________ influence ______________ in patients who have _____________?


ETIOLOGY
Are ______________ who have _______________ at ______________ risk for/of ____________ compared with _____________ 

with/without______________?


MEANING
How do _______________ diagnosed with _______________ perceive __________________?

Melnyk, B. M., & Fineout-Overholt, E. (2011). Evidence-based practice in nursing & healthcare: A guide to best practice. Philadelphia: Wolters Kluwer/Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.

TRIP Database PICO Wizard:
You may find this helpful.  Click on the PICO Search button for help building a PICO question.