Biomedical Research Resources: Evidence-Based Practice

Systematic reviews are literature reviews that summarize evidence by identifying, selecting, assessing, and synthesizing the findings of similar but separate studies. They can help clarify what is known and not known about the potential benefits and harms of drugs, devices, and other healthcare services.

Asking a Good Question (PICO): Asking the right question is a difficult skill to learn, yet it is fundamental to the evidence-based decision-making process. A "well-built" question should include four parts, referred to as PICO that identify the patient problem or population (P), intervention (I), comparison (C) and outcome(s) (O).

Clinical practice guidelines are statements that include recommendations intended to optimize patient care that are informed by a systematic review of evidence and an assessment of the benefits and harms of alternative care options.

• AHRQ Comparative Effectiveness Reviews, Rockville (MD): Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (US); 2005-.

• Am College of Emergency Medicine - Clinical Practice

• American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry

• American Psychiatric Association (APA) Guidelines

• CMA - Clinical Practice Guidelines

• Health Services/Technology Assessment Texts (HSTAT), Bethesda (MD): National Library of Medicine (US); 1994-.

• National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) Guidelines

• NICE - National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence Guidelines

• NIH Consensus Statements

• Veterans Affairs (VA) Clinical Practice Guidelines

• National Guideline Clearinghouse (requires registration)