What is Evidence Based Practice?
Evidence-based practice (EBP) is an approach to health care wherein health professionals use the best evidence possible, i.e., the most appropriate information available, to make clinical decisions for individual patients. EBP values, enhances, and builds on clinical expertise, knowledge of disease mechanisms, and pathophysiology. It involves complex and conscientious decision-making based not only on the available evidence but also on patient characteristics, situations, and preferences. Source: McKibbon, K. Ann. (1998) Evidence-Based Practice. Bulletin of the Medical Library Association Vol. 86, pp. 396-401.
Evidence-based medicine (EBM) aims to apply the best available evidence gained from the scientific method to medical decision making. It seeks to assess the quality of evidence of the risks and benefits of treatments (including lack of treatment).
What are Systematic Reviews?
A systematic review is a literature review focused on a single question that tries to identify, appraise, select and synthesize all high quality research evidence relevant to that question. Systematic reviews of high-quality randomized controlled trials are crucial to evidence-based medicine. Source: Article in Annals of Internal Medicine
Narrow focus - written by a team of researchers who have arange of skills and interest in the topic. SRs are reviews that assemble, critically appraise or evaluate, and synthesize the results of primary studies in an integrative approach.
Features of a well-done SR:
- Defines the question to be addressed precisely and explicitly
- Includes a replicable search strategy (e.g. databases, terms, years, language restrictions etc)
- Uses pre-set inclusion and exclusion criteriato select articles or data sources.
What is Meta-analysis?
Meta-analysis is a method for summarizing statistical findings across multiple research studies. It is a useful method for assessing the level of agreement or disagreement surrounding a given research question. The ability to perform meta-analysis is dependent on the level of consistency in measures and the amount of data shared in published research. Source: Saxton M. (2006) Library Trends, Vol. 55, No. 1, Summer 2006 , pp. 158-170
How do I find Systematic Reviews and Meta-analysis?
Databases:
- Evidence Based Medicine Reviews: Cochrane DSR, ACP Journal Club, DARE and CCTR
- Pubmed Systematic Reviews tool ( Help ). Try green tea cancer prevention. See also related sources for systematic review searching.
- EvidenceUpdates from McMaster & BMJ (British Medical Journal): A searchable database of the best evidence from the medical literature. Try searching green tea cancer prevention.
- Free Tools for Evidence-Based Clinical Practice (BMJ)
- OBESITY at McMaster
I am doing a systematic review? Which studies should I include? Is there a checklist to evaluate systematic reviews?
- Checklist in J. Epidemiology & Community Health
- Inclusion criteria for articles/systematic reviews indexed by McMaster PLUS
Some good resources in York Libraries?
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More help? Rajiv Nariani
ext 20396 -- Steacie Science & Engineering Library
Last modified by: Rajiv Nariani on Fri Nov 20 10:10:41 EST 2009
