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What is 7-Step Evidence Based Practice?

7-Step Evidence-Based Practice (EBP)


The 7-step Evidence Based Practice (EBP) model builds on the 5 Steps of the EBP process and adds 2 additional steps as shown in the diagram below (Steps 0 and 6):

Circle of seven arrows illustrating the 7-step Evidence Based Practice (EBP) model. The arrows form a circle around the image of three male human icons side by side and slightly overlapping. Black on a white ground. The first arrow at the top is pink and represents step 0: Cultivating curiosity. The second arrow towards the right is orange and represents step 1: Asking answerable questions. The third arrow is yellow and represents step 2: Searching the evidence. The fourth arrow is grey and represents step 3: Appraising the evidence. The fifth arrow is dark blue and represents step 4: Integrating evidence into practice. The sixth arrow is light blue and represents step 5: Evaluating practice change. The seventh and last arrow is purple and represents step 6: Disseminating results of evaluation.

"Evidence based practice [also sometimes referred to as Evidence informed practice] is a problem solving approach to clinical decision making that incorporates a search for the best & latest evidence, clinical expertise & assessment, and patient preference values within a context of caring" Mazurek Melnyk et al, 2005

 
This is an iterative process! 

Articles:

Melnyk, BM; Fineout-Overholt, E; Stillwell, SB; Williamson, KM. Evidence-Based Practice: Step by Step: The Seven Steps of Evidence-Based Practice, AJN The American Journal of Nursing: January 2010 - Volume 110 - Issue 1 - p 51-53 doi: 10.1097/01.NAJ.0000366056.06605.d2

Woodbury, M.G. et al (2014). Evidence-based Practice vs Evidence-Informed Practice: What's the difference? Wound Care Canada. 12(1). 

 

In-depth reading:

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Click to search by type of evidence

Systems is the top level of the 6s pyramid. Example: evidence-based clinical information system. This level of the pyramid is grey on the image being described.
Summaries are the second level from the top of the 6s pyramid. Examples: practice guideline, evidence summary. This level of the pyramid is yellow on the image being described.
Synopses of syntheses are the third level from the top of the 6s pyramid. Example: pre-appraised systematic review. This level of the pyramid is pale red on the image being described.
Syntheses are the fourth level from the top of the 6s pyramid. Example: systematic review. This level of the pyramid is pink on the image being described.
Synopses of single studies are the second level from the bottom of the 6s pyramid. Example: pre-appraised single study. This level of the pyramid is blue on the image being described.
Single studies is the bottom level of the 6s pyramid. Example: randommized controlled trial, cohort study. This level of the pyramid is green on the image being described.

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