Step 2: Find
Summaries of the Evidence
Research studies and clinical trials published in the journal literature form the foundation of scientific evidence, but not all research meets the highest standards of quality. The following resources provide access to high quality, synthesized research on medical and nursing topics.
Systematic Reviews/Meta-analyses
If one research study or clinical trial provides good evidence, several studies with similar results may provide even stronger evidence or negate previous findings. This logic is applied by researchers to systematically identify, appraise and synthesize evidence from individual studies on a particular topic.
A vigorous review process with standardized protocols is applied to multiple studies, often utilizing meta-analysis of data from several studies, combined with statistical analyses techniques to minimize the bias of the conclusions. These processes translate into the literature as systematic reviews and summaries of evidence.
Resources
Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews
- Created by the Cochrane Collaboration
- Small collection of reviews on the effects of health care
- Reviews generally focus on patient treatment and therapy issues
- Stringent protocols are applied to each review
- Individual documents take a long time to develop because of the intensive review process
Search the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 
DARE (Database of Abstracts of Reviews of Effects)
- Non-Cochrane systematic reviews
- Over 2500 detailed abstracts and critiques
- Collection of reviews predominantly based on the journal literature
Search DARE (Database of Abstracts of Reviews of Effects)
Joanna Briggs Institute
- Australian based nursing oriented Evidence-based resource
- Provides access to a limited number of resources without payment, a charge is required for access to others. Penn State does not have a subscription to this service
- An international collaboration of 200 researchers, clinicians, academics and quality managers
- The Institute provides education and training in the process of conducting systematic reviews; the development of Best Practice Information Sheets; the implementation of evidence-based practice; and more
Search the Joanna Briggs Institute Database
Clinical Evidence
- Published by the British Medical Journal
- Summaries of the current state of knowledge related to clinical conditions
- Focus is on prevention and treatment of clinical conditions
- Based on thorough searches and appraisals of the literature
- Covers 22 specialties and over 150 conditions
- Peer-reviewed by section editors and 3 external expert clinicians
- Updated frequently
Clinical Evidence defined | Clinical Practice Guidelines defined
Search the Clinical Evidence database
Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ)
- Produced by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), a Federal agency
- Supports health services research
- Mission to improve the quality of healthcare and promote evidence-based decision making
- Evidence-based guidelines, not consensus-based guidelines
- Provide directions for handling certain clinical conditions
- Guidelines often published by specialty societies, i.e. American Heart Association, American Academy of Pediatrics
Search AHRQ Evidence Reports
National Guidelines Clearinghouse
- Produced by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, the AMA and The American Association of Health Plans
- Provides summaries of each guideline and the development process
- Provides links to full-text guidelines, if available, and/or ordering information for print copies
Search the National Guidelines Clearinghouse
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