Levels of evidence pyramid ("Information Mastery: Navigating the Maze." University of Virginia, Claude Moore Health Sciences Library, 2009.)
Evidence based medicine is the conscientious, explicit, and judicious use of current best evidence in making decisions about the care of individual patients. The practice of evidence based medicine means integrating individual clinical expertise with the best available external clinical evidence from systematic research."
HealthLinks Tutorial, (1994-2009). "Basic introduction to evidence-based practice resources." Seattle, WA: University of Washington.
P.I.C.O. Model
Patient, Population, or Problem: How would I describe a group of patients similar to mine?
Intervention, Prognostic Factor, or Exposure: Which main intervention, prognostic factor, or exposure am I considering?
Comparison or Intervention (if appropriate): What is the main alternative to compare for the intervention?
Outcome you would like to measure or achieve: What can I hope to accomplish, measure, improve, or affect?
P.I.C.O. Model for Formulating Patient Questions. (2005). "Evidence based medicine: Finding the best clinical literature." Peoria, IL: University of Illinois Library of the Health Sciences.
Levels of Evidence
Quality of Evidence ranges from A (High) - several high-quality studies with consistent results - to D (very low) - expert opinion, no direct research evidence, or one or more studies with very severe limitation
Essential Evidence Plus. (2009). Levels of Evidence. Malden, MA: John Wiley.
Traube, D. (2007). Evidence-Based Practice [video]. Retrieved March 17, 2009 from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BPqv9K-IZUI
Dr. Traube is affiliated with the University of Southern California School of Social Work.
Vaughn, M. G, Howard, M. O., & Thyer, B. A. (Eds.). (2009). Readings in evidence-based social work: Syntheses of the intervention knowledge base. Los Angeles, SAGE. HV10.5 .R415 2009
Macgowan, M. J. (2008). A guide to evidence-based group work. New York: Oxford University Press. HV45 .M24 2008
Roberts, A. R., & Yeager, K. R. (2006). Foundations of evidence-based social work practice. New York: Oxford University Press. HV689 .F68 2006
For additional titles, do an Exact Search in GIL under the Subject Headings Evidence-Based Social Work or Evidence-Based Practice.
These search across multiple databases and combine the results. Note: Some of the information culled from these engines may not be available full-text through the GSU Libraries but may be ordered via interlibrary loan.
TRIP (Turning Research into Practice) Database
Performs a simple search in more than 60 databases related to EBM.
SUMSearch
Simultaneously searches a few free-access sources, including PubMed and DARE.