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Nursing

What is evidence-based practice?

Evidence-Based Practice (EBP) is the thoughtful integration of the best available research evidence coupled with clinical expertise and patient values (Sackett D, 1996). 

EBP requires clinicians to develop a set of research-based skills including efficient searching of clinical literature and the assessment the best current evidence. 

Steps of evidence-based practice

The steps of evidence based practice are: Ass the patient, Ask a well built clinical question, acquire evidence in healthcare literature, appraise the evidence for validity and applicability, and apply the evidence to practice with clinical expertise, patient values,.

Formulating answerable clinical questions with PICO

PICO is an acronym to help you remember the components of a focused research question!  The question needs to identify the key problem of the patient, what treatment you are considering for the patient, what alternative treatment is being considered (if any) and what is the outcome you want to avoid or promote.