As we consider EBP, we should emphasize that up-to-date, current research is preferred over older information. Medicine evolves quickly, and practices change too frequently to make old details reliable. Modern evidence-based decision-making emphasizes "current" and "best" clinical and research-based evidence and relates this information directly to patient care.
Up-to-date information usually describes evidence from research studies and current best clinical practices, known as the Standard of Care.
Applying evidence-based methods to decision-making will result in quality improvement. These steps that reflect an EBP approach are recommended when working through a clinical laboratory problem or evaluating a change in process:
- ASK: Formulate a question.
- ACQUIRE: Search for relevant and meaningful data and information.
- APPRAISE: Appraise/assess the evidence.
- APPLY: Make recommendations and summarize your case based on the evidence.
- IMPLEMENT: Once approved, implement the process change.
- AUDIT: Audit and assess the process change.
