Evidence based practice (EBP)

Decision support systems provide management guidance by linking individual patient information to the best available evidence from relevant research.

Evidence based summaries draw on systematic reviews or the best available primary studies to integrate the highest level evidence available

Evidence based guidelines use evidence drawn from systematic reviews and studies.  They are problem focussed and may take into account resources and practice relevant to the organisation sponsoring the guideline

Systematic reviews use a transparent process to identify, appraise and summarise studies in relation to a defined clinical question.  A systematic review may or may not include a meta-analysis; a summary of the medical literature that used statistical tecniques to combine study results.  Ideally a meta-analysis should be done in the context of a systematic review. This is not always possible when there is substantial variation in the types of studies included in the review.

Synopses of single studies critically appraise individual articles (primary studies) and include a summary of key methods and findings of the paper and a critique or commentary related to clinical practice.

Single studies - primary research including

• randomised control trials
• prospective and retrospective cohort studies
• case-control studies
• case series/case reports
• qualitative studies

SOURCE:
Resources for answering clinical questions
University of Western Australia 2012
http://guides.is.uwa.edu.au/content.php?pid=46791