SLRs in evidence-based practice
Evidence-based practice in health care is the policy to use scientific information in treatment, intervention, support, and advice.
It is important in areas such as medicine, nursing, and dentistry.
Systematic reviews provide the highest level of research evidence. Their conclusions are based on a critical and objective analysis of all the available literature. These conclusions are then used to decide best treatment practices.
Three principles of evidence-based practice
Click each principle to learn more:
1. The best external evidence known
The key point in evidence-based practice is to supplement professional knowledge with the best available evidence
2. Professional expertise and current patient data
Providers should not do only what they were taught or what they have done in the past. Of course, providers can apply their professional judgment and personal experience and skills gained from practice. But treatments and practice guidelines should be evaluated critically.
3. Patient/client perspectives
Evidence-based health care should also consider the important role of patients in the decision-making process. Thus, the choice of treatment or intervention is ultimately made by the patient. Furthermore, the options that are available depend on the resources and costs involved.
HCPs and systematic reviews
Health care providers (HCPs) can formally or informally form teams of interested colleagues to perform systematic reviews.
Many clinical questions have corresponding systematic reviews in the peer-reviewed online literature. The information may not be up-to-date; providers may need to conduct their own secondary research of new primary research studies.
Explore online: Databases of systematic reviews for evidence-based practice
• The Cochrane Library (https://www.cochranelibrary.com/)
• JBI Evidence-based Practice Database (https://joannabriggs.org/ebp#database)
• Campbell Collaboration (https://www.campbellcollaboration.org/library.html)
• Turning Research into Practice (https://www.tripdatabase.com/).
Some peer-reviewed journals are dedicated to evidence-based practice:
• BMJ Evidence-Based Medicine, https://ebm.bmj.com/