What is Evidence Based Practice

A large number of evidence-based guidelines are drawn up all over the world to improve standards of healthcare and to reduce inequalities in access to effective treatment. Evidence-based practice in psychology is the integration of the best available research with clinical expertise in the context of patient characteristics, culture, and preferences. Despite widespread circulation and publicity of these guidelines, often they are not implemented effectively. Consequently, there is a substantial difference between evidence and practice, with best health outcomes not being achieved. The aim of this chapter is to describe and discuss the methodological process, development, and implementation of the Italian Guidelines for psychology activities in Cardiac Rehabilitation and Prevention, published in 2003 by the Working Group of Psychology of the Italian Society of Cardiac Rehabilitation and updated in the 2005 National Cardiac Rehabilitation guidelines issued by the Italian Programme for Guidelines.