Evidence-Based Medicine Tools & Resources
Evidence-Based Medicine is the integration of best research evidence with clinical expertise and patient values. (Sackett DL, Straus SE, Richardson WS, et al. Evidence-based medicine: how to practice and teach EBM. 2nd ed. Edinburgh: Churchill Livingstone, 2000.)
EBM Pyramid - Click Image to Enlarge
Feel free to download the EBM pyramid image to the right. Right-click on the image and select "Save Image" to save the full sized image.
TRIP (Turning Research Into Practice) Database Plus
Simultaneously searches evidence-based sources of systematic reviews, practice guidelines, and critically-appraised topics and articles -- including most of those listed above and many more. Also searches MEDLINE’s Clinical Queries, medical image databases, e-textbooks, and patient information leaflets.
Filtered Resources
Systematic Reviews / Meta-Analyses
The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews
Consists of detailed, structured topic reviews of hundreds of articles. Teams of experts complete comprehensive literature reviews, evaluate the literature, and present summaries of the findings of the best studies. Published by the International Cochrane Collaboration and made available via Ovid.
The Database of Abstracts of Reviews of Effect (DARE)
Full-text database containing structured abstracts of systematic reviews from a variety of medical journals. DARE is produced by the National Health Services' Centre for Reviews and Dissemination (NHS CRD) at the University of York. DARE records cover topics such as diagnosis, prevention, rehabilitation, screening, and treatment. This database is available via Ovid.
Systematic Reviews are also searchable in MEDLINE:
- Ovid MEDLINE: Enter your search query. Click on the “Additional Limits” icon; select “Systematic Reviews” under “Publication Types.”
- PubMed: Click on “More ...” under “Article Types”, select “Systematic Reviews”, then click on “Systematic Reviews” to apply the filter.
Critically-Appraised Topics
StatRef ACP Smart Medicine
Evidence-based clinical guidance designed for rapid access to clinical information at the point of care. PIER is peer-reviewed, updated continually and includes recommendations based on all levels of medical evidence. Recommendations also include strength-of-recommendation ratings based on the quality of the underlying evidence. From the American College of Physicians. Available through the StatRef interface.
Critically-Appraised Individual Articles
The ACP Journal Club
The editors of this journal screen the top 100+ clinical journals and identify studies that are methodologically sound and clinically relevant. An enhanced abstract, with conclusions clearly stated, and a commentary are provided for each selected article. Published by the American College of Physicians-American Society of Internal Medicine.
Evidence Updates
Quality articles from over 110 clinical journals are selected by research staff, and then rated for clinical relevance and interest by an international group of physicians. Includes a searchable database of the best evidence from the medical literature and an email alerting system. From BMJ Publishing Group and McMaster University's Health Information Research Unit.
Ovid Medline
To limit your Ovid MEDLINE search to the best evidence-producing studies: Click on the “Additional Limits” icon; select specific types of EBM resources either in the top section or under “Publication Types.”
CINAHL via EBSCOHost
To limit your CINAHL search to the best evidence-producing studies: Click on the “Edit” icon in the right-hand column of the Search Results section and select either “Evidence-Based Practice” or a specific level of evidence under the “Publication Type” section.
Background Information/Expert Opinion
Evidence-Based Medicine Information Sites
Centre for Evidence-Based Medicine (Oxford University)
The Centre promotes evidence-based health care and provide support and resources to anyone who wants to make use of them. Includes the EBM Toolbox, an assortment of materials which are very useful for practitioners of EBM, and EBM Teaching Materials, including PowerPoint presentations.