Evidence-based Practice Definition

In the past, health care management decisions were based on pathophysiology knowledge, clinical experience, expert and mentor opinions and patient's preferences. Much of the research rebuking many of these decisions was being ignored. Dr. Archie Cochrane began a campaign to encourage health care providers to use evidence when making health care decisions, and as a result, the concept, evidence-based practice, was developed (Albers, 2001).

(National Center for Biotechnology Information)

Evidence-based health care is a combination of the best research evidence, clinical experience and the client's desires (Pape, 2003).

Albers, L. L. (2001). "Evidence" and midwifery practice. Journal of Midwifery & Women's Health, 46, 130-136.

Pape, T. M. (2003). Evidence-based nursing practice: To infinity and beyond. The Journal of Continuing Education in Nursing, 34, 154-161.

Sakala, C. (2004). Resources for evidence-based practice, January/February 2004. JOGNN, 33, 88-91.

Sackett, D. L., Straus, S. E., Richardson, W. S., Rosenberg, W., & Haynes, R. B. (2000). Evidence-based medicine: How to practice and teach EBM (2^nd ed.). London: Churchill Livingstone.