Steps in the Process
ASK
Make sure you start with a well-developed and answerable question. Using the PICO(T) formula is a good way to make sure all essential information is included.
A good clinical question will:
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Save time when researching
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Keep the focus directly on the patient's need
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Suggest the appropriate form that a useful answer may take
Note: Your clinical situation may raise more than one question. Don't try to squeeze multiple topics into one clinical research question.
ACQUIRE
Using your clinical question, select appropriate search terms. Use those terms to search appropriate resources such as PubMed, TRIP, National Guidelines Clearinghouse or Cochrane Summaries.
APPRAISE
Evaluate the information you find for currency, relevance, authority, accuracy, and purpose. Is it relevant to your patient? Is the information accurate?
APPLY
Once you have determined the information is accurate and relevant to your patient, discuss the results with your patient and apply the information if it is agreeable to you both.
ASSESS
The last step is to do a self-reflection, both of how well you conducted the EBM process and of how the information benefited your patient.
