The judicious practice of evidence-based medicine improves the quality of care provided to patients as well as patient outcomes. It involves the systematic search and evaluation of literature and then applying these findings to clinical decision-making. Specifically, evidence-based medicine encompasses five steps: (1) formation of a specific clinical question, (2) systematic search of the literature for available evidence, (3) appraisal of evidence, (4) interpretation of findings in the context of the individual patient and application to clinical decision-making, and (5) regular evaluation of own performance. An effective search requires sufficient knowledge of different categories of evidence and where they can be accessed. Once the studies are obtained, they are critically appraised. This step requires an understanding of study designs, associated biases, and the resulting strength of evidence. For clinicians who may not have time to perform a systematic search of the literature, they can target their search to focus on higher levels of evidence. Alternatively, they can begin their search with pre-appraised literature rather than individually published studies. Ultimately, a commitment to evidence-based medicine ensures that every clinical decision will be made based on the best available evidence.
