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Evidence Based Practice (EBP) is a process of life-long, problem-based learning. EBP is a concept that applies to all of the health sciences. The process involves:
Sackett, et al. defined Evidence-Based Medicine (EBM) as “the integration of best research evidence with clinical expertise and patient values.” [Sackett DL, Straus SE, Richardson WS, Rosenberg W Haynes RB. "Evidence-based Medicine: How to Practice and Teach EBM". Edinburgh: Churchill Livingstone.]
There is now an overwhelming amount of new information generated annually, monthly, even weekly. Health professionals can not be expected to keep current by reading everything that is published.
Instead, the EBP process teaches professionals how to find the information that they need when they need it.
"The process of systematically finding, appraising, and using contemporaneous clinical and community research findings as the basis for decisions in public health." [Jenicek M and Stachenko S. (2003) 'Evidence-based public health, community medicine, preventive medicine.' Medical Science Monitor: 9(2):p. SR2.]
"Evidence is limited for many public health interventions, yet approaches should be based on the best possible science, be multidisciplinary and center on sound planning and evaluation methods." [Brownson RC, Baker EA, Leet TL, et.al. (2003) Evidence based public health. New York: Oxford University Press.]
Evidence-based public health nursing is the process of developing, implementing, and evaluating proven programs or policies to positively impact the health of a defined population.
For more information on EBP in general, please see the following guide: