Dictionary of Evidence-based Medicine.pdf
Dictionary of Evidence-based Medicine.pdf
Dictionary of Evidence-based Medicine.pdf
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<strong>Dictionary</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Evidence</strong>-<strong>based</strong> <strong>Medicine</strong> I I<br />
Figure 2 Bayes' theorem: Bayesian revision <strong>of</strong> probabilities given new data<br />
Benefits received<br />
Benefits received is a criterion used for assessing the fairness <strong>of</strong> various<br />
charges, particularly in relation to taxes. Property taxes are <strong>of</strong>ten set to<br />
meet this criterion since larger properties would utilize more <strong>of</strong> public<br />
services, such as garbage disposal and police protection (see Ability to pay<br />
for comparison).<br />
Berkson's fallacy<br />
Berkson's fallacy refers to the spurious correlation which may be observed<br />
between two diseases or between a disease and a risk factor arising from<br />
biased sampling (Berkson J (1946) Limitations <strong>of</strong> the application <strong>of</strong> fourfold<br />
table analysis to hospital data. Biometrics Bulletin. 2: 47-53).<br />
Best evidence<br />
There is much controversy about what constitutes best evidence on<br />
which to base decisions in the health care context. There is wide agreement<br />
that for establishing efficacy, a well-designed and conducted randomized<br />
controlled trial (RCT) is the gold standard. However, it is also widely<br />
accepted that the results <strong>of</strong> RCTs may not generalize very well to the practice<br />
situation and other trial designs may be more appropriate (Green G,<br />
Wennberg J, Sackett D (1997) Best evidence. BMJ. 315:1636).<br />
Best <strong>Evidence</strong> is also the name <strong>of</strong> an annually updated CD-ROM publication<br />
which includes articles from the American College <strong>of</strong> Physicians<br />
(ACP) Journal Club and editorials on various issues in clinical decision