Johns Hopkins Nursing Evidence-based Practice : Models and Guidelines by 
Fast Facts for Evidence-Based Practice in Nursing, Second Edition by 
Evidence-based medicine (EBM) or evidence based practice (EBP), is the judicious use of the best current evidence in making decisions about the care of the individual patient. EBP also integrates clinical expertise and takes patient desires, values, and needs into consideration. Dr. David Sackett and his colleagues at McMasters University in Ontario, Canada, initially proposed EBM.
EBP is an umbrella term that encompasses evidence-based medicine, evidence-based nursing, evidence-based physical therapy, evidence-based dentistry, etc.
Sackett D. L., Straus S. E., Richardson W. S., et. al. Evidence-Based Medicine: How to Practice and Teach EBM. Edinburgh: Churchill Livingstone, 2000.
Evidence-based practice consists of five steps:
1. Ask a searchable clinical question;
2. Find the best evidence to answer the question;
3. Appraise the evidence;
4. Apply the evidence with clinical expertise, taking the patient's wants/needs into consideration;
5. Evaluate the effectiveness and efficiency of the process.
Strauss, S. E. Evidence-Based Medicine: How to Practice and Teach EBM. New York: Churchill Livingstone, 2005.
| Research | Evidence-Based Practice (EBP) | Quality Improvement (QI) |
| Purpose: To generate new knowledge or validate existing knowledge by testing hypotheses using quantitative, qualitative, or mixed methods studies. |
Purpose: To find best evidence available from existing research studies and translate it into practice based on context and site. |
Purpose: To evaluate or improve a process, program, service, or system in terms of safety, efficiency, or satisfaction. |
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