Zdravniški Vestnik (Dec 2003)
EVIDENCE-BASED MEDICINE – I. GENERAL PRINCIPLES
Abstract
Background. Evidence-based medicine is a method that helps physicians find and critically evaluate evidences from the medical literature, and apply the evidences in clinical decision-making. In clinical practice the method supplements core medical skills, clinical experience and emphasizes the importance of clinical research evidence. Evidencebased medicine is characterised by two fundamental principles: first, the scientific evidences alone do not suffice for clinical decision-making, second, clinical decision-making is being guided by scientific evidence placed in appropriate hierarchy. For practicing evidence-based medicine additional skills are needed which are generally not part of medical curricula. Physician should be able to formulate a clear clinical question from a patient’s problem and determine what information is required. He should be able to search the literature efficiently, critically appraise the evidence from the literature and properly implement the findings in clinical problem-solving.Conclusions. Evidence-based medicine has been widely accepted in academic medical circles as well as in clinical practice. It is being introduced in curricula of several medical schools, especially as a supplement to clinical skills on different levels of medical studies.Introduction of evidence-based medicine into clinical practice increased the possibility to critically introduce current research findings from medical literature to everyday work of physicians in their care for patients.
