Evidence-Based Medicine

The practice of evidence-based medicine requires an understanding of simple
and basic clinical epidemiology, as well as excellent communication skills,
patience, and a commitment to provide the patient with the knowledge required
to make informed choices. It is important that physicians become familiar with
the meaning of EBM and its role in influencing the provision of care and use of
health resources.
What is Evidence-Based Medicine
Evidence-based medicine has been defined by David Sackett, as «the
conscientious, explicit, and judicious use of current best evidence in making
decisions about the care of individual patients», to aid the delivery of optimum
clinical care to patients.
Evidence-based medicine can be practiced by the integration of individual
clinical expertise with the best available clinical evidence from systematic
research and patient values and circumstances.
Simply put, EBM means applying the best information to manage patient
problems, diagnosis, prognosis, harm, patient safety …etc. It is based on the
assumption that: 1) medical literature, and thus useful information about patient
care, is growing at an alarming rate; and 2) in order to provide best care for
patients, doctors must be able to continuously upgrade their knowledge, i.e.
by accessing, appraising, interpreting and using medical literature in a timely
fashion.
Best
Clinical
Evidence
Clinical
Expertise
Patient’s
Values &
Circumstances
Fig. 1. Practice of Evidence Based Medicine
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