Implementing and sustaining evidence-based clinical practice in Australia:the Evidence Based Clinical Practice Research Initiative

Evidence-based medicine is a process by which clinicians translate clinical information needs into answerable questions, track down answers to those n eeds as efficiently and effectively as possible using the best evidence ava ilable, apply the information to patients and evaluate their performance. I mplementing evidence-based medicine is fragmented and variable. The Nationa l Health and Medical Research Council of Australia has implemented a resear ch program to determine successful strategies for implementation and sustai ning of evidence-based clinical practice. In addition this research program will help to answer whether evidence-based practice improves patient outco mes. This paper describes this program and other strategies that improve th e application of evidence-based practice in clinical settings.