EBP/EIDM: Midwifery at McMaster
Evidence-Based Practice (EBP) OR Evidence-Informed Decision Making (EIDM) is a broad concept referring to the incorporation of valid and relevant external evidence during the decision making process. This may be represented as a series of overlapping circles representing: clinical state, setting, and circumstances; patient values, preferences, and actions; health care resources; and, research evidence. Clinical expertise engages the integration of all four of these forms and sources of evidence in the decision making process.
Research evidence may be found in high-quality research studies, practice guidelines, or knowledge synthesis, that can be applied to the specific patient or population being considered.
As McMaster Midwifery students, the concept of EIDM runs through all aspects of your academic curriculum: from theory to research to clinical decision-making and beyond.
The resources available at the Health Sciences Library can help you find the best available evidence to support these processes, but this is only one piece of the EIDM puzzle (See Fig. 1)
Searching the Evidence
EBP/EIDM is a five-step process (Fig, 2). At HSL we facilitate the acquisition of information stage, helping users formulate answerable questions and decide what level of evidence best suits their needs (Fig. 3)
Just for Fun!
Some Studies That I Like to Quote by James McCormack
Viva La Evidence! by James McCormack
