Using the Internet to enhance evidence-based practice.

Abstract

Evidence-based healthcare requires reliable and validated research findings to aid improved clinical practice. The Internet, with its growing medical resources, is an invaluable tool for busy healthcare workers. However, as more material becomes available on the web, the quality and reliability of various information sites is a worry for many practitioners. The ability to evaluate web sites is becoming increasingly important and as a novice user, I was interested to discover the extent to which the Internet could assist me researching a specific topic. This article describes the process of conducting an Internet search, on a topic relevant to theatre nursing, and considers how the resources might best be evaluated.