EVIDENCE BASED MEDICINE: BASIC PRINCIPLES OF PRACTICE
Author(s): Ε.Ε Effa; E.B Esu; M.M MEREMIKWU
Institute(s): 1 Department of Intemal Medicine, UCTH; 2 Department of Public Health, UNICAL; 3 Department of Paediatrics, UCTH; 1,2,3 Cochrane Nigeria, Calabar Institute of Tropical Diseases Research and Prevention, UCTH
Volume 1 / Issue 1
Abstract
Evidence based medicine (EBM) revolves around three interrelated factors namely: Clinical expertise, best research evidence and patients' values as well as preferences (see Figure 1). It has been defined as: 'the conscientious, explicit, and judicious use of current best evidence in making decisions about the care of individual patient' EBM necessarily recognizes the long acquired expertise of individual clinician or even a community of practitioners, the value of systematic research as the conduit for best evidence as well as other often overlooked factors such as patients' legitimate concerns, values, fears and preferences. Integrating these factors in a timely and contextual way has been the hallmark of the practice of EBM.
Number of Pages: 3
Number of Words: 1900
First Page: 11
Last Page: 13