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NURS : Nursing: Evidence - Based Practice (EBP)

NURS 224: Library Resources

This handout explains Evidence - Based Practice, describes the format of an Evidence - Based Practice article, and tells you what resources contain Evidence - Based Practice articles.

Evidence-Based Practice

What is evidence-based practice?  Here is a definition from the Medical Subject Headings (MeSH).

Evidence-based practice can be thought of as doing research to find a new way to do something. The information must be used with clinical experience or knowledge and the patient's needs.

Types of research used in evidence-based practice:

Case study

Studies

Trials

Systematic Reviews

RCT: randomized controlled trial

Meta-analysis

 

Cochrane Library - Cochrane Reviews

This resource can be used to find Evidence-Based resources systematic reviews and meta analysis.  
Access is available to only a portion of the content, specifically "free access" articles located in Cochrane Reviews.

 

PubMed

Enter your keywords in the search box.  

The results will display.  

Narrow the search results to find a great source by using the filters: 

Text Availability: Choose Free Full Text

Article Type: Choose anything but books and documents

Publication Date: Choose 1 year or 5 years

PMC: PubMed Central

PMC is a free full-text archive of biomedical and life sciences journal literature at the U.S. National Institutes of Health's National Library of Medicine (NIH/NLM). 

This is an excellent tool for primary sources.  You can create a folder to store your articles.

 

PMC has a search box similar to Google.  Use single words or phrases to search. EX: dental neglect children

You can limit your search results to articles published in the last 5 years, see picture below:

In PMC, the journal name is abbreviated as J Dent Res

.  

 

To find the full name of the journal follow these steps

  1. Click on "citation" 
  2. A list of citation styles appears for AMA, APA, MLA, within the citation---the journal name will appear in italics 
  3. The journal name is Journal of Dental Research

EBP Pyramid (Quality of evidence)

Resources for finding Evidence-Based Practice

Other websites

National Guideline Clearinghouse

National Guideline Clearinghouse

 

Evidence Based Reports  provides access to EPC Reports  that offer comprehensive, science-based information on common costly medical conditions and new health care technologies and strategies. Your search results cover complete titles of released evidence reports, comparative effectiveness reviews, and technical briefs.