EVIDENCE BASED CHILD HEALTH

Principles of evidence based medicine

A K Akobeng

Correspondence to:
Correspondence to:
Dr A K Akobeng
Department of Paediatric Gastroenterology, Central Manchester and Manchester Children’s University Hospitals, Booth Hall Children’s Hospital, Charlestown Road, Blackley, Manchester, M9 7AA, UK; tony.akobeng{at}cmmc.nhs.uk

Health care professionals are increasingly required to base clinical decisions on the best available evidence. Evidence based medicine (EBM) is a systematic approach to clinical problem solving which allows the integration of the best available research evidence with clinical expertise and patient values. This paper explains the concept of EBM and introduces the five step EBM model: formulation of answerable clinical questions; searching for evidence; critical appraisal; applicability of evidence; evaluation of performance. Subsequent articles will focus on the principles and critical appraisal of randomised controlled trials, systematic reviews, and meta-analyses, and provide a practical demonstration of the five step EBM model using a real life clinical scenario.

Abbreviations: EBM, evidence based medicine; CASP, critical appraisal skills programme

Keywords: evidence based medicine; formulating clinical questions; search strategy; critical appraisal; clinical decision

CiteULike    Complore    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    What's this?

This article has been cited by other articles:

• Penagos, M., Passalacqua, G., Compalati, E., Baena-Cagnani, C. E., Orozco, S., Pedroza, A., Canonica, G. W. (2008). Metaanalysis of the Efficacy of Sublingual Immunotherapy in the Treatment of Allergic Asthma in Pediatric Patients, 3 to 18 Years of Age. Chest 133: 599-609 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Chiappelli, F., Navarro, A. M., Moradi, D. R., Manfrini, E., Prolo, P. (2006). Evidence-Based Research in Complementary and Alternative Medicine III: Treatment of Patients with Alzheimer's Disease. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med 3: 411-424 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Akobeng, A K (2005). Understanding randomised controlled trials. Arch. Dis. Child. 90: 840-844 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Akobeng, A K (2005). Understanding systematic reviews and meta-analysis. Arch. Dis. Child. 90: 845-848 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Akobeng, A K (2005). Evidence in practice. Arch. Dis. Child. 90: 849-852 [Abstract] [Full Text]