What is evidence-based practice in healthcare?

Evidence-based practice in healthcare is defined as the integration of clinical expertise, patient values, and the best available research evidence into the decision-making process for patient care. This approach ensures that healthcare professionals utilize the most current and relevant data to inform their clinical judgments while also considering the individual circumstances and preferences of patients.

By emphasizing the combination of research findings with the clinician's own skills and the unique preferences of patients, evidence-based practice fosters a more holistic and effective approach to treatment. This can lead to improved patient outcomes, as the treatments chosen are not only scientifically sound but also aligned with what the patient desires and values in their care.

The other options do not effectively capture the essence of evidence-based practice: relying solely on clinical experience ignores the wealth of existing research, disregarding patient preferences undermines the patient-centered approach essential to modern healthcare, and describing it as a theoretical framework with no practical application misrepresents the actionable and evidence-driven nature of this practice in clinical settings.