Once you have obtained data, articles, or information you need to evaluate the proposed change, the third step is to appraise/assess the evidence. This is often the most challenging step in the EBP process. There are roughly 6,000 articles published each day in medicine and biomedical science. Some sources have stated that, on average, 200 articles must be perused before finding one valid and relevant article. Evaluating a resource for its validity, scope, precision, and research design takes practice and skill.
The initial screening of the accumulated evidence requires inclusion and exclusion criteria, as shown below.
Inclusion Criteria:
Possible reasons to include an article or other source in the literature review.
- The evidence is potentially relevant to the review question.
- The practice is in use and available for adoption.
- The results are reproducible in other comparable settings.
- The evidence addresses a defined population or group of patients.
- The evidence impacts an outcome related to patient safety.
Exclusion Criteria:
Possible reasons to exclude an article or other source from the literature review.
- No practice was assessed, or there was no finding with an identifiable outcome measure.
- The practice was not sufficiently described or was described inconsistently with evidence review practice definition or requirements.
- The outcome is not evidence but commentary or opinion.
