I. Overview:
World Evidence-Based Healthcare (EBHC) Day is observed annually on October 20 as a global initiative to highlight the importance of using evidence to guide health policy, clinical practice, and decision-making. It brings together researchers, clinicians, communicators, communities, and policymakers to reflect on how evidence is generated, shared, and applied in real-world settings.
II. Significance of the Theme:
The 2025 theme, “Collaborative Knowledge Communication”, emphasizes that evidence alone is not sufficient, it must be communicated equitably, accessibly, and inclusively across stakeholders to have impact. It calls for blending scientific evidence with community values, clinical experience, and contextual insight to inform health decisions that matter.
III. What is Evidence-based Medicine?
Evidence-Based Healthcare is the integration of the best available research evidence, clinical expertise, and patient values/preferences to inform decisions in health systems. It involves processes such as:
- Systematic reviews,
- Meta-analysis,
- Guideline development,
- Knowledge translation, and
- Implementation science to ensure that practice and policy rest on solid ground.
IV. Quick Facts about EBHCD: 💡
- World EBHC Day has achieved over 80 million online reaches in 2024 across 125 countries.
- The concept of Evidence-based medicine (EBM) has been shaping medical education, clinical guidelines, and healthcare policy for about 30 years since its rise in the 1990s.
- Leading institutions including JBI, Cochrane, HTAi and Campbell Collaboration partner in coordinating EBHC Day.
- WHO SMART Guidelines attempt to convert narrative guidelines into digital, machine-readable formats to speed up implementation.
V. A Brief History of EBHCD:
2020: EBHCD was founded in 2020 by JBI to raise awareness for the need of better evidence to inform health policy and outcomes globally.
2021: The special focus was on “The Role of Evidence in Infodemic” for the urgency of trustworthy evidence.
2022: Theme “Partnerships for Purpose” underscored bridging research, policy, practice.
2023: ‘Evidence and Global Health Equity’ focuses on how the global evidence community can integrate and promote equity across evidence ecosystems to advance health equity worldwide.
2024: This theme “Health and Beyond: From Evidence to Action,” emphasized intersectoral collaboration to address complex global health challenges.
2025: Current theme emphasizes the power of shared learning and collective action in advancing evidence-based global health solutions.
VI. How to Observe EBHCD?
- Publish or share blogs, podcasts, videos, or artwork illustrating how evidence is communicated and shared.
- Use social media to disseminate evidence in clear, inclusive ways like infographics, short videos, interactive content.
- Become an Evidence Ambassador by submitting work, joining discussions, and promoting trustworthy evidence to broader audiences.
References:
- https://worldebhcday.org/
- https://jbi.global/news/article/world-ebhc-day-launch
- https://htai.org/world-evidence-based-healthcare-ebhc-day-2025/
- https://www.cochrane.org/about-us/news/world-ebhc-day-2024-underscores-need-greater-intersectoral-collaboration-build-resilient
- https://www.evidence4health.org/world-evidence-based-healthcare-day.html
