Pediatric Informatics: Computer Applications in Child Health (Health ...

Chapter 10
Evidence-Based Medicine and Pediatrics
Donna M. D’Alessandro
Objectives
Upon completion of this chapter the reader will learn about:
The definition and process of evidence-based medicine (EBM)
Barriers and considerations when implementing EBM into practice
Information technology in bringing evidence to the point-of-care
Specific evidence-based resources for pediatric care
10.1 Introduction
The informed pediatrician, one who is aware of current medical research relevant
to patient care, is evolving. Although many pediatricians are becoming better
connected to current evidence, many barriers remain to its full incorporation into
care. Information science and technology offer potential solutions to overcome
these barriers to bring evidence to the point-of-care for effective decision making
and for continuous professional development of pediatricians.
10.2 The Vision and Reality of Evidence-Based Medicine
Evidence-based medicine (EBM) is “the conscientious, explicit and judicious use
of current best evidence in making decisions about the care of individual patients.”
EBM practice is active integration of individual clinical expertise with the best
available external clinical evidence from systematic research. 1 The EBM movement
originated, in part, with the publication of Dr. Archibald Cochrane’s 1972 book,
Effectiveness and Efficiency: Random Reflections on Health Services, 2 which was
influential in creating the field. The term “evidenced-based medicine” to describe
these concepts first appeared in 1992. 3
C.U. Lehmann et al. (eds.), Pediatric Informatics: Computer Applications 133
in Child Health, Health Informatics,
© Springer Science + Business Media, LLC 2009