Finding the evidence for evidence based practice
EVIDENCE based practice is a term that gets used in pharmacy all the time. We are an evidencebased profession.
However it can be difficult to stay on top of the most current research or find relevant and reliable research when you need to answer a specific question. Here’s a quick recap on evidence hierarchy and what to look for with regard to reliability.
A systematic review is considered to be the highest form of reliable evidence in the
NHMRC evidence hierarchy.
When looking for specific information I’d suggest starting your searches by coupling your question topic with the term ‘systematic review’.
Randomised controlled trials are the next most reliable, followed then by other study types without randomisation or blinding, and ending with case studies.
It is important to critically appraise while you read anything you find. Think about how the findings apply to your specific patient.
Do they align with what you expected? Look at how many participants were in the study and whether the findings were statistically significant.
Statistical significance does not ensure the findings apply to your patient, but it does ensure that the results were not the result of random chance during the research trial.