Mastering the Art of Evidence-Based Practice: A Guide to Critically Appraising Social Science Research

In evidence-based practice, which of the following is the third step a clinician would perform?

Critically evaluate the relevant literature

The third step in evidence-based practice (EBP) is to critically appraise the evidence. After formulating a clinical question and conducting a literature search in the first two steps, the clinician needs to evaluate the quality and relevance of the studies found. Critical appraisal involves assessing the internal validity (i.e., how well the study was designed and executed) and external validity (i.e., how applicable the results are to the target population and setting) of the articles. This step includes evaluating the methodology, study design, statistical analyses, and results. Clinicians need to use their critical thinking skills and knowledge of research methodology to evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of the evidence. Based on the appraisal, clinicians can determine if the evidence supports or contradicts their clinical question. They can then move on to the next step, which is to integrate the evidence with their clinical expertise and patient preferences.

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