What is an Evidence-Based Practice?

The term Evidence-Based Practice is defined in many different ways. The preferred definition merges key aspects of science, clinical expertise, and personal values. The Institute of Medicine (2001) defines evidence-based practice as, “the integration of the best research evidence with clinical expertise and patient values.” Two other related terms of equal importance are promising practices and practice-based evidence.

Promising practices refers to interventions that have some research evidence to indicate that they produce positive outcomes for children and adolescents. Promising practices require additional supporting research evidence to be considered evidence-based practices.

Practice-based evidence is another term frequently used in discussions of evidence-based practices. Isaacs, Huang, Hernandez, and Echo-Hawk (2005) define practice-based evidence “as a range of treatment approaches and supports that are derived from, and supportive of, the positive cultural attributes of the local society and traditions.”

Cultural competence should be required in developing evidence-based practices, and interventions with practice-based evidence should be further developed and distributed (Isaacs, et al., 2005).

Evidence-Based practices, promising practices, and practice-based evidence are distinct, but essential to the advancement of service delivery based upon comprehensive continuous quality improvement efforts.

References:

Institute of Medicine. (2001). Crossing the quality chasm: A new health system for the 21st century. Washington, DC: National Academy Press

Isaacs, M.R., Huang, L.N., and Echo-Hawk, H. (In press). The road to evidence: The intersection of evidence-based practices and cultural competence in children’s mental health. National Alliance of Multi-Ethnic Behavioral Health Association.