Introduction to Evidence Based Practice

Introduction to Evidence Based Practice
Session Overview
Description
This session considers the value that evidence-based practice brings to GPs and their patients. You will learn some of the basic skills needed. This session was reviewed by Sally Higginbottom and last updated in March 2015.

Learning Objectives
By the end of this session you will be able to:

• Summarise the value of evidence-based practice (EBP) for GPs and their patients
• Describe and explain the first step of EBP using a framework such as PICO
• Describe and explain the second step of EBP using focussed, answerable questions and search for evidence from appropriate sources

Defining evidence-based practice (EBP)

To give patients the best care, we need to adopt a comprehensive approach:

1. Clinical experience

We need to use our clinical expertise.

2. Evidence

To ensure that patients get the best care, we need to find, weigh up and apply research evidence.

3. Patient values

A comprehensive approach involves including patients in decisions about their care.

4. Resources

We should use available resources to best effect.

Put all those elements together, and you have EBP. This comprehensive approach represents best practice that you will apply in your day to day work. The change in terminology from evidence based medicine (EBM) to evidence based practice (EBP) reflects how the approach is increasingly being applied outside of clinical medicine. While this module focusses on clinical topics, the same principles can be applied to other fields relevant to GPs, such as practice management.