Evidence-Based medicine Flashcards
What is the old definition of EBM?
A systematic approach to analyse published research as the basis of clinical decision-making
What is the current definition of EBM?
The conscientious, explicit and judicious use of current best evidence in making decisions about the care of individual patients
What does the practice of EBM entail?
Integrating individual clinical expertise with the best available external clinical evidence from systematic research
What is clinical expertise?
Proficiency and judgement acquired by clinicians through clinical practice and experience
What does external clinical evidence?
Clinically relevant research: can both invalidate previously accepted diagnostic tests and treatments and replace them with better ones
What are fears of EBM?
- that it will degenerate into “cookbook” medicine, however, it requires a bottom-up approach that integrates the best external evidence with individual clinical expertise and patient-choice
- EBM will be hijacked by purchasers and managers to cut the costs of health care
ancient era EBM
teaching was mainly authoritative and passed on with stories
what were the 2 main themes of renaissance era EBM
- bloodletting [its eventual disappearance demonstrates the evolution of EBM]
- Scurvy
Who made strides in the diagnosis of scurvy?
Sir James Lind
Why was the translation of evidence of scurvy into practice imperfect?
Due to the delay that the pathophysiological explanation of scurvy remained speculative
Who was involved in the treatment of burns?
Ambroise Pare
Who was involved in the use of lithotomy [operation to remove bladder stones]?
William Cheseldon
Who introduced amputation techniques?
Edward Alanson
Who was the pioneer of EBM?
Ernest Amory Codman
What did Ernest Amory Codman do in the transitional era EBM?
developed the “end result idea” where he detailed the preoperative and posteoperative care: he stated that hospitals are responsible for the care given