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The use of NIV appears to be safe and effective in patients with severe asthma, including selected patients with an altered level of consciousness. NIV was well tolerated with a low need for subsequent intubation.

Evidence‐based practice, also known as evidence‐based medicine, has been suggested as a more suitable basis for decision making in clinical practice than the traditional ‘expert’ based approach. Central to evidence‐based practice is the application of evidence (as found in the published literature) to an individual clinical problem. Evidence‐based practice, however, has limitations that may raise questions regarding its applicability to particular types of clinical situations, including many of the problems encountered in emergency medicine.

Evidence based practice (EBP), also known as evidence based medicine, has been suggested as a more suitable basis for decision-making in clinical practice than the traditional ‘expert' based approach. Central to EBP is the application of evidence (as found in the published literature) to an individual clinical problem. EBP, however, has limitations that may raise questions regarding its applicability to particular types of clinical situations including many of the problems encountered in Emergency Medicine. This article discusses the background and limitations of EBM and suggests some ways that the principles can be incorporated into Emergency Medicine practice.

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