NRST: Evidence Based Practice: EBP Terminology
Finding Evidence-Based Practice Journal Articles
What is Evidence-based Practice (EBP)?
"Evidence-based nursing is the practice of nursing in which the nurse makes clinical decisions on the basis of the best available current research evidence, his or her own clinical expertise, and the needs and preferences of the patient." (Mosby's Medical Dictionary, 8th edition. 2009)
Evidence-based practice can be thought of as requiring "the integration of the best research evidence with our clinical expertise and our patient's unique values and circumstances." (Straus, et al, 2005)
"Fortunately, evidence-based practice (EBP) is an approach that enables clinicians to provide highest quality of care in meeting the multifaceted needs of their patients and families." (Melnyk & Fineout-Overholt, 2005)
Try this guide helpful in understanding Evidence-based Nursing Practice.
"Evidence-Based Practice in Nursing: A Guide to Successful Implementation" by Suzanne C Beyea RN, PhD, FAAN & Mary Jo Slattery RN, MS
Terms to know
- Case study: A summary that describes a single person, group, situation, or event.
- Review article: Article or publication which provides an overview or summary of a specific topic by examining published literature.
- Critically appraised topic: A short summary of a specific topic from the literature, created to answer a specific clinical question.
- Cohort study Study: in which a defined population is followed over a long period of time to compare one or more variables' correlation to the outcome of interest. An example would be to look at first level nursing students at Kent East Liverpool and follow them over time looking at specific variables or interventions and their resulting effect.
- Case-control study: Study which compares a group of research subjects with the outcome of interest to an appropriate control group without the outcome of interest. The proportion of each group having a history of one or more particular attributes or variables of interest is then compared. A case-control study looks at a population now and then examines its history to look at the presence (or not) of variables of interest by comparing to the control group.
- Randomized controlled clinical trial (RCT): Study in which the research subjects are randomly divided into an experimental and a control group. The experimental group is exposed to the variable of interest and the control group is not. The results are compared.
- Systematic Review: A study which uses rigorous, standardized methods for selecting and assessing all relevant research studies on a specific topic. A systematic review does not include a quantitat:ive summary of the results.
- Meta-analysis: A systematic study which uses rigorous, standardized methods to identify and evaluate all relevant prior studies on a specified topic according to a predetermined and explicit method. A statistical aggregation and analysis is then performed to combine the results of these studies to determine whether significant trends can be found. A meta-anlysis includes a quantitative summary of the results.
- Guideline Practice: guidelines are statements or other indications of policy or procedure for standards of care or practice based upon the best available level of evidence. Health fields often refer to "clinical practice guidelines. " Guidelines are often created by an expert consensus group based on rigorous analysis of existing evidence
