Evidence Based Medicine
Evidence Based Medicine
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What is Evidence Based Medicine?
Sackett, et al. defined Evidence Based Medicine (EBM) as "the integration of best research evidence with clinical expertise and patient values." -- Sackett DL, Straus SE, Richardson WS, Rosenberg W Haynes RB. "Evidence-based Medicine: How to Practice and Teach EBM". Edinburgh: Churchill Livingstone.
"The practice of evidence-based medicine is a process of life-long, self-directed learning in which caring for one's own patients creates the need for clinically important information about diagnosis, prognosis, therapy, and other clinical and health care issues..." -- Sackett DL. "Evidence-Based Medicine." Semin Perinatol. 1997; 21(1):3-5.
EBM is… "an evolutionary progression of knowledge based on the basic and clinical sciences and facilitated by the age of information technology." -- Doherty, Steve. "Evidence-based medicine: Arguments for and Against." Emergency Medicine Australasia. 2005; 17: 307-13.
Evidence Based Medicine is a process of life-long, problem-based learning.
The process involves:
- Converting information needs into focused questions.
- Efficiently tracking down the best evidence with which to answer the question.
- Critically appraising the evidence for validity and clinical usefulness.
- Applying the results in clinical practice.
- Evaluating the performance of the evidence in clinical application.
Introduction to EBM
Please feel free to view this introductory lecture, which provides history, definitions, and general background information that is helpful when first learning about Evidence Based Medicine.
EBM or EBP?
Throughout this guide we have chosen to use the phrase 'Evidence Based Medicine' or 'EBM'. We acknowledge that many health care professionals prefer the more encompassing terminology of 'Evidence Based Practice' or 'EBP'. We hope that this guide is helpful to everyone interested in evidence based health care.
Leaders in EBM
Several groups have been leaders in Evidence Based Medicine. Their initiatives in promoting the practice of EBM are numerous and are detailed in various sections of this guide.
- Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) "The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) is the lead Federal agency charged with improving the safety and quality of America's health care system. AHRQ develops the knowledge, tools, and data needed to improve the health care system and help Americans, health care professionals, and policymakers make informed health decisions." - https://www.ahrq.gov/cpi/about/profile/index.html
- Centre for Evidence Based Medicine The Centre for Evidence-Based Medicine is housed within the Nuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences at the University of Oxford.
- Health Information Research Unit -- McMaster University "The Health Information Research Unit (HIRU) in the Department of Health Research Methods, Evidence, and Impact (HEI) at McMaster University conducts research in the field of health information science and is dedicated to the generation of new knowledge about the nature of health and clinical information problems, the development of new information resources to support evidence-based health care, and the evaluation of various innovations in overcoming health care information problems." - http://hiru.mcmaster.ca/hiru/
- Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) "JBI is an international research organisation based in the Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences at the University of Adelaide, South Australia." - https://jbi.global/