Authors: Bigfoot, D.S., Bartgis, J

Publication Year: 2010

Last Updated: 2010-07-12

Journal: National Indian Health Board

Keywords: Evidence-Based Practices, cultural competency, best practices, American Indian, Delores BigFoot, Jami Bartgis

Abstract:

In a national effort towards accountability and effectiveness of health care, the use of evidence-based practices (EBP) is becoming the standard for clinical care. Every health discipline has examples of historical treatment approaches (i.e., we've always done it this way) without real evidence that it works. The same trend is occurring in the area of prevention as the United States begins the shift from high cost interventions to preventative care. Unfortunately, the historical treatment and prevention approaches are not always effective and have, at times, resulted in no-improvement at best in some cases and fatalities at worst. The move toward demonstrating evidence or research-base of the effectiveness of prevention, treatment and intervention approaches were a step toward ensuring the best possible care for patients and their community. However, as the pendulum swings toward the sole use of clinical practices with formalized research base, new challenges and limitations have emerged, especially for ethnic minority populations and the historically underserved groups of people. 

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