Evidence Based Practice - Subject - Health

This guide will help you to find and use all the available useful sources to help you get just what you need fast!

Starting Your Search

Here you can access helpful catalogue searches, where we've completed some of the first steps to get you started in your searching.

Featured Resource

Mosby's Evidence-Based Nursing Monographs

Mosby's Evidence-Based Nursing Monographs: the latest evidence about common clinical problems, including summaries of key studies, tagged by level of evidence.

What is Evidence Based Practice?

Evidence Based Practice is the integration of clinical expertise, patient values and the best evidence into the decision making process for patient care.
Sackett, D.L., et al. (2000). Evidence-based medicine: How to practice and teach EBM (2nd ed.). Edinburgh: Churchill Livingstone.

For more information, see this online tutorial from Duke University on the basics of EBM.

To determine if a study is 'evidence-based' requires that you 'critically appraise' it. For critical appraisal tools refer to the Critical appraisal tab.

Pyramid of study types

This image graphically represents the hierarchy of evidence provided by the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC)

Graphic courtesy of: https://guides.library.unisa.edu.au/SystematicReviews/Protocols

For NHMRC designation of levels of evidence go to: A guide to the development, implementation and evaluation of clinical practice guidelines

What is an evidence hierarchy? A quick guide to understanding evidence hierarchies, how they can be helpful in searching for and assessing the quality of research evidence (FACS Insights, Analysis and Research, NSW Government, 2020).

This is just a selection of the thousands of ebooks available

Methodologies for Effectively Assessing Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) by McCarthy, P. W., & Langweiler, M. J. (Eds.). Finding the right criteria to use when judging Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) is essential if it is to stand up to criticism from those concerned about the importance of evidence-based medicine. This edited volume highlights how CAM requires different research tools and techniques from conventional medicine, and examines effective methodologies for accurately assessing CAM.
Publication Date: 2015
Evidence-Based Practice Across the Health Professions, Fourth Edition by Tammy Hoffmann, Sally Bennett PhD, Chris Del Mar Designed to guide and support students and clinicians to learn how to make evidence-informed decisions. This book will help you learn how to decide what clinical questions to ask, search for research evidence to answer them, and analyse the evidence to decide if the results are believable, important, and applicable. Learn how to talk with patients about evidence and make collaborative decisions and how to approach evidence implementation at an individual and organisational level.
Publication Date: 2024
Evidence-Informed Health Policy by Jacqueline M. Loversidge, Joyce Zurmehly, Sigma Theta Tau International Staff (Contribution by) The authors demystify health policymaking and equip nurses and other healthcare professionals with the knowledge, tools, and confidence to navigate the first of many steps into health policy. Translates the EBP language of clinical decision-making into an evidence-informed health policy (EIHP) model-a foundation for integrating evidence into health policymaking and leveraging dialogue with stakeholders.
Publication Date: 2019
Supporting the Mental Health of Children in Care : Evidence-Based Practice by Jeune Guishard-Pine (Editor) Combining contemporary research with practice findings, this book shows how we can improve the mental health of children in care. Expert contributors highlight the challenges that children face and propose innovative models of practice which have been proven to improve outcomes.
Publication Date: 2016
Evidence-Based Treatment Approaches for Suicidal Adolescents by Michele Berk (Editor) Combines state-of-the-art research and treatment development with clinical descriptions of evidence-based and evidence-informed treatment strategies for adolescents struggling with suicidality and self-harm. The book provides important information on clinical approaches that have shown promise in reducing the risk of suicide attempts and self-harm in teens and preventing the tragedy of premature death by suicide.
Publication Date: 2019
Guide to Evidence-Based Physical Therapist Practice by Dianne V. Jewell Guide to Evidence-Based Physical Therapist Practice, Fourth Edition teaches the knowledge and skills to evaluate medical evidence and apply it to the practice of physical therapy.
Publication Date: 2017
Clinical naturopathy : an evidence-based guide to practice by Sarris, Jerome; Wardle, Jon
Publication Date: 2019
Evidence-Based Practice in Nursing by Jean V. Craig (Editor), Dawn Dowding (Editor) This book brings to its readership the fundamentals of evidence-based nursing practice in an easily digested format. Avoiding unnecessary jargon and using case studies and other practical examples to help demystify research and the process of applying research in clinical practice, Evidence-Based Practice in Nursing, 4th edition, will be essential reading for anyone interested in developing their skills in this area.
Publication Date: 2020
Evidence-Based Public Health Practice by Arlene Fink Designed for students and practitioners, this practical book shows how to do evidence-based research in public health. As a great deal of evidence-based practice occurs online, it focuses on how to find, use, and interpret online sources of public health information. It also includes examples of community-based participatory research and shows how to link data with community preferences and needs. Each chapter begins with specific learning objectives and concludes with practice exercises geared to the objectives. Each chapter also contains a list of key terms that are an essential part of an evidence-based public health practitioner's vocabulary. The book includes a comprehensive glossary and hundreds of online and print references, examples, and charts.
Publication Date: 2015
Fast Facts for Evidence-Based Practice in Nursing, Second Edition by Maryann Godshall First Edition Designated a Doody's Core Title! This is a pithy, pocket-sized resource for students and practicing nurses alike that delivers the foundations of Evidence-Based Practice (EBP) and basic nursing research concepts in an easy-to-read, quick access format. It demystifies the research process with straightforward information presented in short sentences and bullet points. The book focuses on providing readers with the most practical information on EBP, including how to get the best evidence quickly, using various databases, and coverage of both quantitative and qualitative methods. At-a-glance charts categorize research and simple examples demonstrate concepts. The second edition has been updated to reflect rapidly changing trends and state-of-the-art information in EBP, including such new research methods as narrative inquiry and storytelling. Using proven, class-tested content for both traditional and online courses, this updated edition includes guidance on how EBP is used to obtain and retain Magnet Status, and presents examples of how health care providers are integrating EBP into their practice. It differentiates between EBP and research, a difficult concept for students to grasp. Extensive coverage of how EBP can be used to improve patient care features examples that demonstrate the practical application of content. Every chapter includes the popular "Fast Facts in a Nutshell" feature, highlighting must-know information. The book also provides background information on defining the "compelling question," which is essential to finding the appropriate evidence-based material. New to the second edition: Reflects new trends, research methods, and state-of-the-art EBP information Includes guidance on how EBP is used to obtain and retain Magnet Status Provides examples of how health care providers and hospitals are integrating EBP into their practice Differentiates between EBP and research Discusses how EBP can be used to improve patient care with plentiful examples
Publication Date: 2015
Handbook of Evidence-Based Interventions for Children and Adolescents by Lea A Theodore A step-by-step resource for treating more than 40 prevalent issues with proven strategies This comprehensive handbook for evidence-based mental health and learning interventions with children and adolescents is distinguished by its explicit yet concise guidance on implementation in practice. With a compendium of proven strategies for resolving more than 40 of the most pressing and prevalent issues facing young people, the book provides immediate guidance and uniform step-by-step instructions for resolving issues ranging from psychopathological disorders to academic problems.
Publication Date: 2017
Implementing the Evidence-Based Practice (EBP) Competencies in Healthcare: A Practical Guide for Improving Quality, Safety, and Outcomes by Melnyk, Bernadette Mazurek Gallagher-Ford, Lynn Sigma Theta Tau International Fineout-Overholt, Ellen
Publication Date: 2016
The Intersection : Where Evidence Based Nursing and Information Literacy Meet by Sue Phelps (Editor), Loree Hyde (Editor), Julie Planchon Wolf (Editor) The Intersection: Where Evidence Based Nursing and Information Literacy Meet describes how the Association of College and Research Libraries (ACRL) Framework and Information literacy Competency Standards for Nursing mesh with nursing essentials, thus speaking to the information needs of nurses, nurse educators, and librarians who support worldwide nursing programs. In order to find the best evidence from studies, students and practicing nurses must be proficient in the entire range of information literacy skills. Though the references for this document are from U.S. organizations, they are applicable to nursing audiences across the globe.
Publication Date: 2018
Introduction to Nursing Research : Incorporating Evidence-Based Practice by Carol Boswell; Sharon Cannon Introduction to Nursing Research: Incorporating Evidence-Based Practice, Fifth Edition teaches nursing students how to integrate evidence-based practice and research into their daily practice while considering the newest trends and research.
Publication Date: 2018
Netter's Orthopaedic Clinical Examination E-Book : An Evidence-Based Approach by Joshua Cleland, Shane Koppenhaver, and Jonathan Su With its unique combination of classic Netter artwork, exam photos and videos, and rigorous evidence-based approach, Netter's Orthopaedic Clinical Examination, 3rd Edition, helps you get the most clinically significant information from every orthopaedic examination. It assists you to quickly review the reliability and diagnostic utility of musculoskeletal physical exams and make it easier to incorporate evidence into your clinical decision making. Extremely user-friendly and well organized, this unique text walks you through the anatomy and clinical exam, then critically reviews all literature for given diagnostic tests.
Publication Date: 2015
Research in Nursing, Midwifery and Allied Health by Marilyn Richardson-Tench, Patricia Nicholson, and Beverley Taylor
Publication Date: 2018

Tools and resources

EBM search engines

TRIP Database
Trip is a tool for you to find high-quality clinical research evidence.

Centre for Evidence Based Medicine (CEBM)
Provides free support and resources to doctors, clinicians, teachers and others interested in learning more about EBM.

Database of Abstracts of Reviews of Effects (DARE)
DARE includes systematic reviews that evaluate the effects of health and social care interventions and the delivery and organisation of health and social care services. (1994-2015 - continued by NHS Signals)

NIHR (NHS) Signals
NIHR Signals are timely summaries of the most important research that aim to cut through the noise and provide decision makers with the evidence they can use.

EBP/EBM tools

Glossary of EBP/EBM terms

Centre for Evidence Based Medicine Glossary

EBM articles

Evidence based medicine: what it is and what it isn't. BMJ 312: 71–2
Principles of Evidence-based Medicine - Arch Dis Child 2005;90:837–840
Critical Appraisal of Scientific Articles: Part 1 of a Series on Evaluation of Scientific Publications - Dtsch Arztebl Int. 2009 February; 106(7): 100–105.
Study design in medical research: Part 2 of a Series on the evaluation of Scientific Publications - Dtsch Arztebl Int. 2009 March; 106(11): 184–189

Critical appraisal

How do you know if a study is 'evidence based'?

Determining if study results are valid and evidence-based means you need to know how to 'critically appraise' it.

Critical appraisal is the systematic evaluation of clinical research papers in order to establish:

Does this study address a clearly focused question?
Did the study use valid methods to address this question?
Are the valid results of this study important?
Are these valid, important results applicable to my patient or population?

If the answer to any of these questions is "no", you can save yourself the trouble of reading the rest of it.

Critical appraisal tools

Joanna Briggs Institute

Critical appraisal tool downloads to assist in assessing the trustworthiness, relevance and results of published papers.

CASP Appraisal checklists

Eight critical appraisal tools to assess the trustworthiness, relevance and results of Systematic Reviews, Randomised Controlled Trials, Cohort Studies, Case Control Studies, Economic Evaluations, Diagnostic Studies, Qualitative Studies and Clinical Prediction Rule.

Centre for Evidence-Based Medicine (CEBM)

Critical Appraisal worksheets for Systematic Reviews, Diagnostics, Prognosis, Randomised Controlled Trials, Qualitative Studies and IPD (Individual patient data).

Equator Network - Reporting guidelines for main study types

This international network seeks to improve the reliability and value of published health literature. Includes guidelines such as Randomised trials, observational studies case reports and more.

SIGN (Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network) - Methodology Checklists

Methodology checklists for systematic reviews and meta-analyses, randomised controlled trials, cohort studies, case-control studies, diagnostic studies and economic studies.

BestBETs Critical Appraisal worksheets

Contains 13 Critical appraisal worksheets, including case-control checklist (including harm), cohort, diagnosis, prognosis, qualitative, randomised control trial, review or meta-analysis and more.

Types of Studies

Chidambaram, A. G., & Josephson, M. (2019). Clinical research study designs: The essentials. Pediatric Investigation, 3(4), 245-252.
Epidemiology for Public Health Practice by Robert H. Friis; Thomas Sellers With extensive treatment of the heart of epidemiology--from study designs to descriptive epidemiology to quantitative measures--this reader-friendly text is accessible and interesting to a wide range of beginning students in all health-related disciplines. A unique focus is given to real-world applications of epidemiology and the development of skills that students can apply in subsequent course work and in the field.
Publication Date: 2020
Modern Epidemiology, 4th ed. Part II Study design and interpretation by Timothy L. Lash; Tyler J. VanderWeele; Sebastien Haneuse; Kenneth J. Rothman In this complex and evolving field, this text provides unparalleled, comprehensive coverage of the principles and methods of epidemiologic research. Provides authoritative information on the methodologic issues crucial to the wide range of epidemiologic applications in public health and medicine. Reflects both the conceptual development of this evolving science and the increasing role that epidemiology plays in both public health and medicine.
Publication Date: 2021
Applied Epidemiologic Principles and Concepts by Laurens Holmes; Laurens Holmes Provides practical knowledge to clinicians and biomedical researchers using biological and biochemical specimen/samples in order to understand health and disease processes at cellular, clinical, and population levels. Concepts and techniques provided will help researchers design and conduct studies, then translate data from bench to clinics in attempt to improve the health of patients and populations. This book presents the extreme complexity of epidemiologic research in a concise manner that will address the issue of confounders, thus allowing for more valid inferences and yielding results that are more reliable and accurate.
Publication Date: 2017
Introduction to study design by Howick, J.
Publication Date: n.d.
Why Do Researchers Do Different Kinds of Clinical Studies? by NIH News in Health Outlines different types of clinical studies and explains why scientists might use them. The guide notes that a study’s strength depends on its size, methods, and design.
Publication Date: 2016