Evidence-based Practice in Speech Language Pathology: Scaling Up

Abstract

Evidence-based practice is a process to which clinical professionals adhere when making decisions concerning the assessment or treatment o f a given condition. Within the field of speech-language pathology, it is increasingly advocated as best practice. As our profession seeks to transform itself from one that is primarily craft-based to one that relies on evidence-based processes, it must develop and implement a series of structures that will foster this transformation. This article describes three specific structures that are increasingly available within the field of speech-language pathology in the United States to guide transformation of the profession: systematic reviews and meta-analyses, treatment studies, and clearing houses. Without these structural supports, it is unlikely that evidence-based practice can be scaled u pin a way that has positive impacts on practice.

Keywords

• evidence-based practice
• systematic review
• meta-analysis