Which option lists the five steps of evidence-based practice as emphasized in CDIP Domain 3?

Which option lists the five steps of evidence-based practice as emphasized in CDIP Domain 3?

• A. Ask a focused clinical question; Acquire best evidence; Appraise the evidence; Apply evidence to patient care; Assess outcomes.
• B. Ask a focused clinical question; Collect data; Appraise the evidence; Apply evidence to patient care; Assess outcomes.
• C. Identify clinical problem; Seek information; Evaluate evidence; Implement changes; Monitor patient outcomes.
• D. Ask a broad question; Acquire evidence; Appraise results; Apply evidence; Monitor outcomes.

Answer: (A)

The main concept being tested is the structured five-step process of evidence-based practice: start with a focused clinical question, search for the best evidence, critically appraise the evidence, apply the findings to patient care, and then assess the outcomes to see the impact. The option that lists exactly this sequence—asking a focused clinical question, acquiring the best evidence, appraising the evidence, applying it to patient care, and assessing outcomes—fits the standard EBP workflow precisely. The other options drift from this pattern in important ways: one uses collecting data instead of seeking the best evidence; another starts with identifying a clinical problem rather than formulating a focused question; another asks a broad question, which weakens the search for high-quality evidence; and some use terms like monitoring or evaluating outcomes that don’t match the established final step of assessing outcomes after applying the evidence.

The main concept being tested is the structured five-step process of evidence-based practice: start with a focused clinical question, search for the best evidence, critically appraise the evidence, apply the findings to patient care, and then assess the outcomes to see the impact. The option that lists exactly this sequence—asking a focused clinical question, acquiring the best evidence, appraising the evidence, applying it to patient care, and assessing outcomes—fits the standard EBP workflow precisely. The other options drift from this pattern in important ways: one uses collecting data instead of seeking the best evidence; another starts with identifying a clinical problem rather than formulating a focused question; another asks a broad question, which weakens the search for high-quality evidence; and some use terms like monitoring or evaluating outcomes that don’t match the established final step of assessing outcomes after applying the evidence.