Evidence-based practice is also referred to as Evidence-based Health Care (EBHC), when it comes to the medical field. The phrase “Evidence-Based Practice” has been defined in so many ways by scholars and researchers in the medical field. One of the definitions of EBHC refers to the practice as the health care that occurs when medical decisions are made, while putting into consideration how the decisions affect the care that is given to the patients. Kathy et al (Kathy, M. , ET al. 2005) states that decisions are often made very carefully depending on the valid and relevant information that is available in this practice.
Many medical practitioners do not clearly understand the effect of adopting evidence-based practice in their work. Evidence-based practice and research are two topics that have attracted great attention in the contemporary world medical field. In this paper, Evidence-based practice in relation to health care will be critically discussed. Examples will also be used to analyze why evidence-based research should be used in health care provision. Characteristics of Evidence-Based Practice The evidence-based practice in the medical field has been encouraged.
This is due to the benefits the practice offers to the patients as well as the medical experts or practitioners. The benefits can be attributed to the characteristics of Evidence-based practice. One major characteristic of the practice is that, the managers, clinicians, and health policy makers have a duty or responsibility to make decisions on issues that relate to the patients’ care. This makes the practice very important to the policy makers and the managers, just like it is to the patients. The practice is also important to the clinicians.
Another characteristic of Evidence-based practice is that, it acknowledges that there are certain factors that influence the decisions made about the patients’ care. One factor that affects decision making is the results of randomized controlled trials. The practice also recognizes other factors other than the results of randomized controlled trials, to influence the decisions that are made in the medical field. These factors may have a high level of influence on the policy and clinical decisions.
For instance, the factors may influence decisions based on the availability of resources and patient preferences. In this case, valid and relevant evidence plus other influential factors should always be put into consideration during the decision making process. The assumption that any sort of evidence can be used to influence a decision on its own needs to be ignored. The evidence-based practice embraces and should always be committed in seeking actively valid and relevant information. This information is very vital in ensuring that proper decisions are made concerning a patient’s care.
There is need to make an assessment on the accuracy of information before it is used in decision making. In addition, the applicability of the given evidence to a certain decision should be determined in Evidence-based practice. This is often seen as a way through which information is appraised. It is very important to recognize that different information may be present. However, the validity and relevance of any given information in evidence-based practice depends on the existing circumstances at a particular time and place.