Evidence Based Medicine

Evidence-Based Medicine (EBM): Evidence-based medicine is the judicious use of the best research evidence (found in health sciences literature), clinical expertise (what the health care provider knows) and patient values (what the patient wants and believes) to create a plan of action regarding patient care.

The 5 A's of the Evidence Cycle: The 5 A's are a good system for remembering the steps needed to practice evidence-based medicine.

Ask - Develop a searchable question. PICO is a helpful format for ensuring that a clinical question includes four essential elements: patient, intervention, comparison, and outcome. 

Acquire - Once a searchable question is developed, EBM resources are used to locate a high quality information source to answer that question.

Appraise - Use critical appraisal to ensure that the information being used is high quality, authoritative, and relevant to the patient.

Apply - Combine the best research evidence, clinical expertise and patient values to determine a course of action and apply the it to the patient. 

Analyze - Reflect on the course of action taken, and seek ways to improve.