Today is World Evidence-Based Healthcare Day
Published Date: 20th October 2023
World Evidence-Based Healthcare (EBHC) Day is held on 20 October each year. It is a global initiative that raises awareness of the need for better evidence to inform healthcare policy, practice and decision making to improve health outcomes globally.
So, what is Evidence-Based Healthcare (also called Evidence-Based Medicine)?
Evidence-based medicine (EBM) uses the scientific method to organize and apply current data to improve healthcare decisions. Thus, the best available science is combined with the healthcare professional's clinical experience and the patient's values to arrive at the best medical decision for the patient. There are 5 main steps for applying EBM to clinical practice.
- Defining a clinically relevant question
- Searching for the best evidence
- Critically appraising the evidence
- Applying the evidence
- Evaluating the performance of EBM
(Definition above taken from Stat Pearls)
Your Library and Knowledge Service (That’s us! 
) is here to help you ensure that your practice is based on the most recent and most relevant evidence and guidance.
- Keep up to date with the latest guidelines, reports, events, statistics and news in your specialty and areas of interest by signing up for our Knowledge Alerts Service.
- Let us find the latest research for you by asking us to carry out an Evidence Search.
- Or ask us for an Assisted Search if you’d like to learn how to search the medical databases and literature for yourself.
- Use Browzine to keep track of the newest issues of journals in your subject area.
- Book a Critical Appraisal Session to learn how to systematically read and appraise the evidence and research you find.
- And don’t forget our Point of Care Tools – bringing you an up to date summary of the latest best practice to your own device, easy to access and use on the spot at the bedside.
To find out more about World Evidence-Based Healthcare Day and their ongoing campaign see their website here: https://worldebhcday.org/.