Evidence-Based Medicine: What Is It and How Does It Apply to Athletic Training?

Area of Science:

• Sports Medicine
• Athletic Training
• Evidence-Based Practice

Background:

• Athletic training clinical practice can be enhanced through the integration of evidence-based medicine (EBM).
• EBM synthesizes research evidence, clinical expertise, and patient preferences for optimal decision-making.
• Current outcomes research in athletic training lags behind other healthcare professions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To introduce the principles and components of evidence-based medicine (EBM) to athletic trainers.
• To highlight the impact of EBM on clinical practice and patient care in athletic training.
• To advocate for the adoption of EBM and improved research within the athletic training profession.

Main Methods:

• Literature search of MEDLINE, CINHAL, and Cochrane Reviews using terms related to EBM and athletic training.
• Synthesis of information on the 5 components of EBM: question formulation, evidence searching, appraisal, application, and evaluation.
• Review of the current state of outcomes research in athletic training.

Main Results:

• Evidence-based medicine involves a systematic 5-component process for clinical decision-making.
• Effective EBM requires high-quality research on sports medicine techniques, which is currently lacking in athletic training.
• Athletic trainers need enhanced critical appraisal skills to utilize medical literature.

Conclusions:

• Athletic trainers should adopt critical thinking to assess and apply medical literature into practice.
• The athletic training profession needs to foster more research to strengthen its scientific foundation.
• Evidence-based medicine represents a crucial advancement for the growth and development of athletic training.