Where did the evidence-based practice (EBP) movement originate?

The evidence-based practice (EBP) movement originally emerged from the field of medicine in the United States. This development can be traced back to the early 1990s when it became increasingly important for healthcare professionals to utilize the best available evidence to make informed clinical decisions. The term "evidence-based medicine" was popularized by a group of researchers, particularly at McMaster University in Canada, who emphasized the importance of integrating clinical expertise with systematic research findings and patient values.

This approach marked a significant shift from traditional practices that heavily relied on anecdotal evidence or clinical experience alone. By focusing on rigorous research and statistical analysis to guide treatment plans and policy-making, EBP sought not only to improve patient outcomes but also to provide a framework for assessing the effectiveness of various interventions.

Other fields such as nursing, public health, and social work have since adopted principles of EBP to enhance their practices, but the roots of the movement are firmly planted in medicine, starting in the United States, where clinicians began systematically integrating research with their practices to achieve better health outcomes.