Quiz: How to Critically Evaluate Evidence

Jennifer Hamlin, AS, RVN, NDAET, GCTLT, Otago Polytechnic School of Veterinary Nursing, Dunedin, Otago, New Zealand

ArticleLast Updated May 20181 min readPeer ReviewedWeb-Exclusive
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Evidence-based practice—also known as evidence-based veterinary medicine—is the process of using scientific evidence to guide patient care decisions. The approach is widely accepted in healthcare fields because it helps ensure the best outcome for patients and for the wider community.  

When reviewing scientific evidence that will be used to inform patient care decisions, assess the evidence to ensure it represents the best possible information in a particular area. Areas that need to be assessed include the accuracy, objectivity, robustness, and relevance of the evidence, as well as whether or not it is current.