title: Integrating the principles of evidence-based practice: prognosis and the metabolic syndrome.
abstract: Current health care trends and pressures have strained clinical decision making and practice patterns of practitioners. Evidence-based practice has evolved in response to these trends. Evidence-based practice requires providers to be proficient in statistical analysis and critique of the evidence. This article uses a hypothetical patient's prognostic concerns to depict a practitioner's integration of the principles of evidence-based practice as she considers clinical practice guidelines, expert opinion, and a prognostic study relative to her patient's prognosis. Statistical measures evident in a prognostic study, such as absolute risk, baseline risk, relative risk, survival curves, and hazard ratios are defined.
authors.forename: Wendy C
authors.initials: WC
authors.lastname: Meyers
authors.forename: Judith A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Johnson
authors.forename: Kathleen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Klardie
authors.forename: Molly Ann
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: McNaughton
mesh_terms: D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy; D008875:Middle Aged; D009722:Nurse Practitioners / Q000458:organization & administration*; D009730:Nursing Assessment; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D011320:Primary Health Care / Q000379:methods*; D011379:Prognosis; D016016:Proportional Hazards Models; D012107:Research Design; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D016019:Survival Analysis