Best practice generally refers to practices
that result in the best possible patient outcomes,
and in some cases, lower costs. Evidence-
based practice means that evidence is
used to either support current practice or
guide changes in practice. However, there is
substantial variability in what is considered
evidence. Protocols based on research evidence
are more likely to achieve these goals
by decreasing variability in care across clinicians
and across sites. The purpose of this article
is to describe the different categories and
uses of evidence, sources of evidence-based
practices, and the demands and opportunities
that evidence-based practice brings.