Using Evidence-Based Practice to Select Diagnostic Tests

Diagnosis is a primary activity of hand surgeons and therapists. Diagnostic tests can be used to assist in "ruling in" or "ruling out" a condition to best direct prognosis and treatment. However, the assigning of the diagnostic label is not always obvious. Principles of evidence-based practice may help hand care professionals improve their practice in the diagnosis of their patients. Evidence-based practice can be defined in terms of five steps that serve the structure for decision making and ensure optimum use of clinicians' expertise in the diagnosis.