Evidence-Based Medicine

Evidence-Based Medicine (EBM) is a medical practice approach that emphasizes the use of evidence from well-designed and well-conducted research in the decision-making process for patient care. The term was coined in the 1990s by a group of medical educators and researchers led by Gordon Guyatt at McMaster University.

Definition

Evidence-Based Medicine is the integration of best research evidence with clinical expertise and patient values. It involves complex decision-making based on the available evidence, the clinical state and circumstances of the patient, and the patient's preferences and actions.

History

The term "Evidence-Based Medicine" was first used in the published literature by Gordon Guyatt in 1991 in a paper in The Journal of the American Medical Association. The concept, however, has roots dating back to mid-19th century Paris and earlier.

Principles

The principles of Evidence-Based Medicine include:

• The use of the best available evidence in making decisions about individual patient care.
• The practice of evidence-based medicine means integrating individual clinical expertise with the best available external clinical evidence from systematic research.
• The application of the principles of evidence-based medicine is a process that includes the following steps: asking answerable clinical questions, searching for the evidence, critically appraising the evidence, applying the results of the appraisal in clinical practice, and evaluating performance.

Criticisms

Despite its widespread acceptance and application, Evidence-Based Medicine has been criticized on several fronts. Critics argue that it undervalues clinical experience, overemphasizes the role of research evidence, and may be used to cut costs at the expense of individual patient care.

See also

• Clinical practice guideline
• Medical research
• Medical ethics
• Patient safety
• Healthcare quality

External links

• Centre for Evidence-Based Medicine
• Evidence-Based Medicine Journal

Evidence-Based Medicine Resources
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