Evidence-Based Practice
“Evidence-based practice” or “evidence-based medicine” involves a process which results in application of the best available evidence to clinical decision-making. All ACSLPA members have a professional and ethical obligation to consistently apply the concept of evidence-based practice to their service delivery decisions.
The following websites provide useful information to assist clinicians in applying the concept of evidence-based practice to their service delivery decisions.
University of Alberta – Acquiring Evidence
Provides numerous links to assist clinicians in applying the concept of evidence-based practice.
University of Alberta Libraries – Communication Sciences and Disorders Resource Page
Provides resources to assist speech-language pathologists and audiologists find evidence-based information.
Center for Evidence-Based Medicine (UK)
Provides Evidence-Based Medicine guides and practical how-to’s for researchers, clinicians, students, and teachers.
Canadian Institutes of Health Research – Introduction to Evidence-Informed Decision Making
Provides modules on the understanding and application of the evidence-informed decision making process.
Evidence Summary Databases
Evidence Summary Databases provide access to systematic reviews and evidence summaries. Information may be pre-appraised for quality.
The following evidence summary databases are available free of charge:
Centre for Reviews and Dissemination – Provides access to a collection of databases including:
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- Database of Abstracts of Reviews of Effects (DARE)
- NHS Economic Evaluation Database (NHS EED)
- Health Technology Assessments (HTA)
Cochrane Collaboration – Cochrane Reviews – Database provides access to abstracts and where available, plain language summaries of Cochrane systematic reviews; links to full-text versions may be available.
Health-Evidence.ca – Provides evidence based studies on public health topics.
speechBITE – Database provides open access to a catalogue of Best Interventions and Treatment Efficacy across the scope of speech-language pathology practice.
TRIP (Turning Research into Practice) Database – Allows health professionals to quickly identify the highest quality evidence for clinical practice; the database provides clinical practice guidelines, meta-analysis, systematic reviews and full articles.
Fees to access the following are applicable; a free trial option is available.
Cochrane Collection Plus – Provides the most comprehensive collection of databases from the Cochrane Library including the following:
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- NHS Economic Evaluation Database (NHS EED)
- Health Technology Assessments (HTA)
- Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews (CDSR)
- Database of Abstracts of Reviews of Effects (DARE)
- Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials
- Cochrane Methodology Register
Research Databases
Research databases provide access to research articles on a broad range of subject matter including speech-language pathology and audiology topics.
The following research database is available free of charge:
PubMed – The United States National Library of Medicine database includes over 20 million citations for biomedical literature from MEDLINE, life science journals and online books. Citations may include links to full-text content from PubMed Central and publisher web sites.
Fees to access the following are applicable; a free trial option is available.
Google Scholar – Search the web for peer-reviewed papers, theses, books, etc. from broad areas of research.
The following databases require a subscription
CINAHL – Comprehensive database of nursing and allied health journals
MEDLINE – Database of biomedical journals
PsycINFO – Database of behavioural and social sciences journal articles, book chapters, books, and dissertations
ScienceDirect – Database of science, technology, and medicine journal articles, book chapters, and open access content
Web of Science – Database of citations from indexed articles in the sciences, social sciences, arts, and humanities
Free Speech-language Pathology and Audiology Related Journals
Canadian Journal of Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology
American Journal of Speech-Language Pathology
Journal of Rehabilitation Medicine – Provides free access to content over one year old.
Medline Plus – Provides current information on diseases, conditions and wellness issues.
Research Council of Canada – Provides search function for national science library and ability to order articles for a fee through the Canadian Institute for Scientific and Technical Information.
Canadian Institute for Health Information – Provides information on Canada’s health system and the health of Canadians.
Stroke Engine – Provides current information on stroke rehabilitation and interventions.