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Evidence Based Medicine: Home

Introduction to Evidence Based Medicine (EBM) or Evidence Based Practice (EBP) principles and practice

What is EBM?

Diagram illustrating decision making based on the best available research evidence, patient values and preferences, and clinician expertise in a particular environment or organizational context

[Evidence Based Medicine is] the conscientious, explicit and judicious use of current best evidence in making decisions about the care of individual patients.1
[EBM is] a process of turning clinical problems into questions and then systematically locating, appraising, and using contemporaneous research findings as the basis for clinical decisions.2

1. Sackett DL, Rosenberg WM, Gray JA, Haynes RB, Richardson WS. Evidence based medicine: what it is and what it isn’tBMJ. 1996;312(7023):71-72. doi:10.1136/bmj.312.7023.71

2. Rosenberg W, Donald A. Evidence based medicine: an approach to clinical problem-solving. BMJ. 1995;310(6987):1122-1126. doi:10.1136/bmj.310.6987.1122

Evidence Based Practice Cycle - 5 A's

5A's of EBM: Assess, Ask, Acquire, Appraise, Apply

  • Assess - Clinical Evaluation
  • Ask - Developing a Clinical Question
  • Acquire - Searching for the Evidence
  • Appraise - Critical Appraisal of the Evidence
  • Apply - Applying the Evidence to the Patient's Care

Investigate the tabs in this guide for resources on developing clinical questions, evidence-based resources to search, and appraisal tools. You can also take a look at the general EBM resources in the right sidebar, or contact the library for help identifying evidence to use in your own practice or for some one on one instruction in EBP principles or searching.

EBM Learning Resources

HSL and EBM - Just Ask!

Health Sciences Library

(205) 348-1360
library@cchs.ua.edu

Health Sciences Librarians

Nelle Williams, MSLS
Director
(205) 348-1364
ntwilliams1@ua.edu

Andrea Wright, MLIS
Clinical / Tech Services Librarian
(205) 348-1335
alwright1@ua.edu