Source: https://health.ucdavis.edu/cnr/evidence_based_practice.html

Evidence-based practice (EBP) is the conscientious use of current best evidence in making decisions about patient care (Sackett, Straus, Richardson, Rosenberg, & Haynes, 2000).

It is a problem solving approach to clinical practice and administrative issues that integrates:

• A systematic search for and critical appraisal of the most relevant evidence to answer a burning clinical question
• One's own clinical expertise
• Patient preferences and values (Melnyk & Fineout-Overholt, 2014)

The Five Steps (Five A's) of Evidence-Based Practice

1.  Assess your patient and determine the pertinent issues. You may be looking for evidence about therapy options, prognosis or diagnostic techniques.
2. Ask a clinical question. Use the PICO model to formulate a clear and concise clinical question.
3. Acquire the best evidence. Search the appropriate databases and resources to find the best evidence.
4. Appraise the evidence. Determine whether the information you found is relevant, valid and applicable to your patient.
5. Apply the evidence to your patient. Ensure that the evidence and recommendations meet your patient's values and expectations. 

Having difficulty figuring out good keywords to use to search for information? Use the PICO mnemonic to help get started on brainstorming possible keywords for searching:

P(patient, population, problem)- age, sex, setting, ethnicity, condition,disease, type of patient, or population

I(intervention)- treatment, medications, education, diagnostic tests or best practice(s)

C(comparison with other interventions or current practice)- may not be applicable if your question is looking for best practice.

O(outcome)- stated in measurable terms, expected outcomes based on the intervention identified, such as decrease in fall rate, decrease in length of stay, increase in patient satisfaction

Source: Dearholt S, Dang D, Sigma Theta Tau I, Institute for Johns Hopkins N. Johns Hopkins Evidence-Based Practice Model And Guidelines, Second Edition [e-book]. Indianapolis, IN: Sigma Theta Tau International; 2012. Available from: eBook Collection (EBSCOhost), Ipswich, MA. Accessed August 28, 2017.