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MRS213 Research Skills Guide

Introduction

When searching for information in the field of health to answer clinical or research questions, you may be required to locate evidence-based practice resources. The information below, and on the following page, provides an introduction to where and how to search for Evidence-Based resources.

What is evidence-based practice?

Evidence Based Practice was first defined by Dr David Sackett in the 1990s, but a more recent definition has it as

“integrating the best available research evidence with clinical expertise and the patient’s unique values and circumstances” (Straus, Glasziou, Richardson, & Haynes, 2011).

And "it also requires the health professional to take into account characteristics of the practice context in which they work" (Hoffman, Bennett, & Mar, 2016, p. 4).

  • Evidence-based practice is the intersection of clinical expertise, research evidence, information from the practice context, and the patients values and circumstancesThe best research evidence is usually from relevant research that has been carried out using sound methodology.
  • Clinical expertise is a combination of the clinician’s experience, education and clinical skills.
  • The patient has his/her own personal preferences, concerns, expectations, and values.
  • The practice context includes characteristics of the situation in which the interaction between patient and health professional is taking place - for example, the resources available.

 

Evidence-Based Practice has been expanded from Evidence-Based Medicine to apply to many other health professions. 

The steps in EBP

There are various ways of listing the steps in the Evidence-Based Practice process, but a common way has 5 main steps:

1 Expressing the problem as a clinical question (Ask the question)
2 Finding evidence-based resources that answer the question (Acquire the evidence)
3 Critically appraising the evidence to assess its validity (Appraise the evidence)
4 Applying the evidence (Apply the evidence)
5 Re-evaluating the evidence and its application (Re-evaluate the evidence)

More resources

Evidence Based Practice Library resource guide created by the Charles Sturt University Library:

Tutorials

From a tutorial compiled by the Duke University Medical Center Library and the Health Sciences Library at the University of Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Websites

Charles Sturt University acknowledges the traditional custodians of the lands on which its campuses are located, paying respect to Elders, both past and present, and extend that respect to all First Nations Peoples.Acknowledgement of Country

Charles Sturt University is an Australian University, TEQSA Provider Identification: PRV12018. CRICOS Provider: 00005F.