Evidence Based Practice

What is Evidence-Based Practice?

Evidence-Based Practice (EBP) is a process for practice that combines the best available evidence, the practitioner's expertise, and the client's preferences within the constraints of the practice environment.

There are five steps in EBP:

1. Ask a relevant question
2. Acquire evidence about your topic
3. Appraise the quality of evidence for external validity (how applicable it is to what you are studying), internal validity (how accurately it measures or describes what it says it does), and reliability (if the study is done again, will they get the same results?).
4. Apply the evidence to client care
5. Assess the efficacy of your work in steps 1 through 4

This guide covers each of the five steps in order.