Communication Sciences and Disorders

Evidence-based practice (EBP) can be defined using different words and descriptions, but all definitions include these 3 basic parts: best available evidence, the professional's clinical expertise, and the patient's circumstances and values.

The EBP cycle starts with a patient condition, and then moves through 5 steps to aid in the decision making process to provide the best medical care for the patient.

1. Ask a well-built clinical question
2. Acquire the best evidence 
3. Appraise the evidence
4. Apply the results to the patient  
5. Evaluate the application to the patient