In medicine, evidence-based practice (or EBP) is a decision making process about patient care that integrates clinical expertise with the most up-to-date scientific research and evidence and the patient's preference for treatment.
The process of EBP can understood in five steps - the 5 A's:
- Ask a clear clinical question - also called a PICO question.
- Acquire the best evidence available for your question.
- Appraise the evidence for validity using clinical experience and the patient's preferences to determine an intervention/treatment.
- Apply the evidence.
- Assess the treatment and evaluate the outcomes.
