What does the term 'evidence-based' imply?

• A. Practices are based on tradition or outdated methods.
• B. Practices are based on research rather than tradition or outdated methods.
• C. Practices are based on marketing claims.
• D. Practices are based on random guesswork.

Answer: (B)

Evidence-based practice means making care decisions that are grounded in the best available research evidence, while also considering your own clinical experience and the patient’s values and preferences. It relies on high-quality studies and systematic reviews rather than tradition or outdated methods, marketing claims, or guesswork. In practice, that means formulating a clear clinical question, looking up relevant research, critically judging how trustworthy and applicable the evidence is, and then applying it to the patient’s situation and monitoring the outcomes. If a method has strong, well-designed evidence showing it works and is safe, it’s favored; if the evidence is weak or outdated, it’s not. This approach integrates science with real-world care and patient goals.