What Is Evidence-Based Practice?

Evidence-based practice (EBP) began in evidence-based medicine in the 1970s and 1980s. Its literal meaning is "follow the evidence to practice", and it refers to the knowledge consumer (the individual or group served by the practitioner, generally referred to as the patient, customer, or visitor, etc. depending on the situation) For specific problems, with the active cooperation of consumers, based on the best evidence provided by researchers and practice guidelines, standards or evidence databases coordinated by managers, etc. Evidence-based practice is a manifestation of scientific and engineering in the field of social science practice in the new era, and it embodies the era spirit of truth-seeking, democracy, efficiency, justice and sharing in the era of globalization.

Evidence-based practice

Connotative structure of evidence-based practice

The evidence-based practice movement is a very broad conceptual revolution, with different manifestations in different fields. Take evidence-based psychotherapy as an example. Evidence-based practice refers to "therapist integrates the best available research evidence with clinical expertise when he is aware of the patient's personality, culture, and preferences. The specific practice of psychology. "It mainly includes three aspects: 1) the best available research evidence; 2) the clinical skills of the therapist; 3) the personality, culture and preferences of the patient. Generalizing to the entire field of psychology practice, we believe that evidence-based practice refers to the practice of retrieving and selecting the best research evidence related to the practice situation according to the specific practice situation, and combining the individual experience of the practitioner to serve the practice The specific characteristics of the subject, psychological practice aimed at improving the effectiveness of practice. Evidence-based practice provides a reference framework for using research in practice.

Evidence-based research

Bringing a variety of research evidence into the field of practice: Evidence-based practice is a conceptual change in the field of psychological practice, and its core feature is "following research evidence to practice", that is, emphasizing the attention and use of existing " Best research evidence. " The evidence can be either scientific conclusions about treatment strategies, evaluations, etc., obtained in the laboratory and related contexts, or research evidence obtained from basic research in clinical psychology. Specifically, these studies include: 1) randomized control group experimental studies (RCTs); 2) quantitative research in basic research fields; 3) qualitative research; 4) systematic case studies; 5) single case experiments; 6) humans Scientific research; 7) ecological research in natural contexts; 8) meta-analysis. These studies have certain reliability and validity, and are more reliable than individual fragmented experience. Practitioners can select and adopt different research evidence according to the needs of different practical situations.

Bringing research evidence into the field of practice helps to balance the impact of the researcher's research and the personal experience of the practitioner on practice, thereby effectively promoting the development of practice. In the field of traditional psychological practice, there are two very important characteristics: 1) personal experience prevails. Practitioners often practice according to their own experience or the education of others. The elderly practitioners with rich experience often have an advantage over the younger ones. 2) Practitioners do their own thing. Due to the backwardness of technical means and the closure of ideas, there is not much exchange between practitioners. Individual practitioners are often in a situation of single-handedness and single-armed combat. Some excellent and effective practice schemes cannot be effectively standardized and popularized, so that practices that should have achieved better results always fail. After introducing the concept of evidence-based practice, practitioners can engage in efficient psychological practice as long as they can understand relevant research conclusions, master certain retrieval skills, and possess other necessary practical skills. The age and empirical factors of practitioners are no longer almost as decisive as the results of practice. Moreover, due to the emergence of evidence-based practice, researchers and practitioners have formed alliances within and between them, and practitioners can begin large-scale practice of group operations and overall operations.

Evidence-based Practice Evaluation Criteria

Provide evaluation criteria for various research evidences in practice : Evidence obtained in various ways will be encountered in practice, but these evidences are not the same, and sometimes they even oppose each other. This requires that the existing research evidence must be provided with a standard that can evaluate its pros and cons in practice. Evidence-based practice provides a reference evaluation criterion for this. It considers whether a study is suitable for practical use, mainly considering the following factors: 1) the relative weights of different research methods, generally speaking, the conclusions drawn by the random control group experiments have more internal validity; 2) the representativeness of the research sample; 3) whether research can guide practice at the level of guidelines and principles; 4) research on the scalability and transferability to clinical practice situations; 5) whether research can draw conclusions based on limited research evidence; 6) other Applicability of race / minority or remote population. With these issues in mind, you can judge and measure which evidence in practice is the best research evidence.

There are two main indicators for judging and measuring the best research evidence in APA: Efficacy and clinical utility are similar to the internal validity in experimental psychology, that is, the accuracy of a research measurement to the factors to be studied. . Generally speaking, the random control group experiments have the best efficacy indicators, followed by large samples of random experiments, and the conclusions of qualitative studies are even worse. 2) Clinical utility, similar to external validity, that is, the scalability, enforceability, and cost-benefit status of this research evidence in specific treatment situations. Evidence-based practice introduces these two judging indicators, so that practitioners have "the law to rely on" and can better find the best evidence needed in the vast research evidence.

Evidence-based Practice Framework

It provides a framework for integrating research evidence, personal experience of practitioners and related policy formulation:

Evidence-based practice integrates researchers, research evidence, practitioners, practical service objects, managers, and practical situations into a unified framework system. 1) In addition to focusing on issues that are of particular interest to them, researchers can conduct some practice-oriented research according to the needs of practice and related policies, make full use of their own advantages, and provide more research evidence for the field of practice. 2) Practitioners can use technical means to retrieve and find the best research evidence, and they can carry out more effective psychological practice according to the corresponding treatment guidelines or manuals, combined with their own experience. 3) The actual service object (may be called "visitor", "customer", "consumer" or "patient" according to the content of the service they receive) can be full of the conclusions drawn from the research evidence Confidence, proactively choose the service method you like, so as to cooperate with the service of practitioners. 4) Relevant policy makers can use computer, network and other technical means to build a more comprehensive database based on existing research, and formulate corresponding practice manuals, guidelines or standards to improve the quality of practice services.

In short, the emergence of the evidence-based practice movement has not only affected the future practice mode, research topics and methods of the entire psychology at the academic level, but also affected the financial sponsorship, publications, and dissertation of psychology at the specific operational level. This impact is global and sets up a positive interaction bridge between research and practice in the field of practice.

Evidence-based practice steps

Steps of evidence-based practice : Evidence-based practice not only provides a comprehensive theoretical system, but also uses the latest scientific methods and statistical methods, relying on information technology such as computer networks, to provide a realistic and specific integration of research and practice. Viable practice framework.

The first step is to examine the practical situation and identify practical issues. Practitioners use observations, questionnaires, and measurements based on the performance of the practice object.

Implementation steps for evidence-based practice

Technical means such as tables and interviews collect information as comprehensively as possible, trace the ultimate source of the problem, recognize the nature of the problem, and present it in the form of concise "interrogative sentences".

The second step is to retrieve evidence based on the question. If there is no ready-made solution in the practice guide, standard or manual, you should use the keywords of the problem to search the relevant database on the Internet (such as the Kecolan Collaborative Network of evidence-based medicine) to conduct the retrieval of the evidence. Evaluate and judge to find the best research evidence. The third step is to practice based on the evidence. When scientific evidence is found, practitioners can practice according to the solutions provided by the evidence. In the practice process, practitioners should always keep an eye on the problems to be solved, monitor the progress of the practice process, and adjust and modify their practice plans at any time according to the actual situation.

Finally, after the practice is completed, an immediate summary is required. Practitioners should reflect on all steps and interventions taken in the course of practice, sum up experiences and lessons, and find better ways to cope with the next similar practice. If conditions permit, practitioners can also publish their own practice cases in the form of studies for reference by other practitioners.

Inspirations from evidence-based practice

Implications for communication research and practice:

First, evidence-based practice provides evaluation criteria for research. In the face of complicated research conclusions, practitioners are often helpless. Evidence-based practice not only categorizes evidence, but also sets specific criteria for determining the best evidenceinternal authenticity and external validity. The former mainly considers whether the method used by the researcher in the laboratory situation accurately grasps the problem to be studied; the latter considers that the solution provided by the institute can be extended from the laboratory situation to the daily life situation Or degree of migration. In general, only research that meets both criteria is the best evidence available to practitioners.

Second, evidence-based practice provides a good intermediary platform for the transformation of research into practice. Managers and other relevant personnel not only have to translate research to form standards or guidelines, but also use information media such as the Internet to establish databases to allow practitioners to more conveniently, quickly and accurately retrieve the required research information. With the intervention of information technology, practitioners can absorb and use the wisdom of researchers in any corner of the world without leaving the home.

Third, evidence-based practice has prompted researchers to focus on daily practice. Managers and third-party institutions can adjust the allocation of research resources through financial sponsorship, project declaration, and thesis publication to ensure that practical issues that need to be urgently addressed can get the active attention and effective research of at least some researchers.

Finally, evidence-based practice incorporates practical objects into the process of active interaction between research and practice. In many cases, the practice object itself has a certain professional ability. Within the framework of evidence-based practice, there are good opportunities and channels to access relevant research, and you can understand the process, outcome and cost of the practice in advance. Therefore, they are more likely to actively negotiate with practitioners and make joint decisions to ensure that the practice proceeds smoothly.

Evidence-based practice associates and integrates the four aspects of researchers, practitioners, managers, and practice objects in a framework, and together they play a wonderful symphony. It shines with the spirit of the times: following the best evidence reflects the "truth-seeking" of practice, the division of labor and cooperation between all parties reflects "fairness" and "team spirit", and the focus on cost-benefit reflects "efficient" The repeatability of practical decisions reflects "transparency" and "democracy". It can be said that evidence-based practice is the infiltration and elimination of the modern scientific spirit into the field of practice, the response of the field of humanities and social sciences to the practice of natural sciences, and a major change in the way humans practice.

Of course, there are problems with evidence-based practice. It uses the "truth" of the research field to ensure the "goodness" of the practical field, potentially exaggerating and indulging the authority of scientific research, making the practice art "dangerous". Moreover, reality is always so colorful, and it is only a distant utopia to find the best evidence for each specific practice. The subjective skills and experience of practitioners are still very important and can sometimes play a decisive role. But no matter what, with the bridge of evidence-based practice, at least we have started on the road of integrating research and practice ...

^[1]