Evidence in Action

The American Chiropractic Association and Palmer College of Chiropractic have partnered to provide “Evidence in Action,” a series of articles and videos that translate how the findings of research studies and other evidence can be applied in clinical practice. 

What is Evidence-based Practice?

There is an abundance of definitions and variation of terms for evidence-based practice (EBP), including evidence-informed practice and evidence-based clinical practice (EBCP). Fortunately, most of them say essentially the same thing. The most well-known definition is that put forth by David Sackett and colleagues:

“Evidence-based [practice] is the integration of best research evidence with clinical expertise and patient values."1

Evidence-based practice (EBP) is a term coined by Gordon Guyatt2 at McMaster University in 1991 to encompass the idea of teaching clinicians how to find, interpret and use the best available evidence for clinical practice. Evidence-based clinical practice (EBCP)--often used synonymously with EBP--is a patient-centered approach to clinical management that explicitly utilizes research evidence, patient values and clinician experience. The strength of that evidence, the benefits and risks of alternative approaches and patient preferences all influence management strategies.

With the focus on greatest patient benefit, ACA’s evidence-based practice in chiropractic management policy (revised in March 2017) supports these principles as a means to incorporate current best evidence into all aspects of clinical care.


Articles and Videos

"Improving Interprofessional Communication"
By Heather Mai-Roecker, DC, ARNP, and Christopher B. Roecker, DC, MS

"Collaboration for Low Back Pain Treatment in Older Adults"
By Zacariah Shannon, DC, MS
> Listen to the author discuss the article in this *ACA Members-Only Video*

"Does Spinal Manipulation Affect Central Nervous System Pain Mechanisms?"
By Zacariah Shannon, DC, MS, Robert Vining, DC, and Stephen Onifer, PhD
 > Listen to the author(s) discuss the article in this *ACA Members-Only Video*

“Enhancing a Biopsychosocial Approach”
By Robert Vining, DC, and Yasmeen Khan, DC

"Interpreting 'Quality' and 'Strength' in a Practice Guideline"
By Robert Vining, DC, and Zacariah Shannon, DC, MS

“Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport (RED-S)” 
By Robert Vining, DC, and Breanne Bovee, DC

Evidence-based Practice Diagram

For a print-ready PDF, click here. 

  1. Sackett D et al. Evidence-Based Medicine: How to Practice and Teach EBM, 2nd edition. Churchill Livingstone, Edinburgh, 2000, p.1
  2. Guyatt G, Voelker R. Everything you ever wanted to know about evidence-based medicine. JAMA 2015;313:1783–5.