Evidence-Based Practice
Resources
What is evidence-based practice?
Evidence-based practice is best defined by Sackett and colleagues (1997) as “…the conscientious, explicit and judicious use of current best evidence in making decisions about the care of individual patients.” Evidence-based practitioners take steps to determine which interventions have research to support their use. They determine which interventions have the highest quality research support, then make informed treatment decisions based on the unique needs of their patients.
Autism has received tremendous media attention over the past decade, and politicians, celebrities, and other figures have weighed in on best practices. A Google search of “autism treatments” leads to millions of results. Families just beginning to cope with a diagnosis are faced with an overwhelming amount of information that is very difficult to navigate.
Knowing what practices are evidence-based provides a framework for families to evaluate treatment claims and decide which will be most effective for their child.