EBM has been simply explained as five main steps (Heneghan and Badenhoch 2006), which can also apply to EBVM, and have been used to form the structure of this tutorial:
Ask
Defining a clinical question that is of interest and answerable
Acquire
Finding the best available evidence to answer the question
Appraise
Assessing the quality of the relevant evidence found
Apply
Implementing the evidence into clinical practice where appropriate
Assess
Evaluating the impact of the implementation and changes in clinical practice
- Ask – defining a clinical question that is of interest and (hopefully!) answerable
- Acquire – finding the best available evidence to answer the question
- Appraise – assessing the quality of the relevant evidence found
- Apply – implementing the evidence into clinical practice where appropriate
- Assess – evaluating the impact of the implementation and changes in clinical practice
Progressing through this tutorial will give you further knowledge about each of these steps in greater detail, as we cover how to ASK and frame a clinical question correctly, how to ACQUIRE the literature that is out there, how to APPRAISE this literature and APPLY what you learn to your practice, as well as how to ASSESS the outcomes of your application and clinical changes.