Dictionary of Evidence-based Medicine.pdf
Dictionary of Evidence-based Medicine.pdf
Dictionary of Evidence-based Medicine.pdf
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28 <strong>Dictionary</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Evidence</strong>-<strong>based</strong> <strong>Medicine</strong><br />
initially healthy group (cohort) <strong>of</strong> individuals exposed to different levels<br />
<strong>of</strong> a suspected risk factor (smoking) for a disease (e.g. lung cancer) and<br />
following them for a number <strong>of</strong> years after recruitment. By comparing the<br />
incidence <strong>of</strong> the disease in the different groups, quantitative statements<br />
can be made about the strength <strong>of</strong> association between the risk factor and<br />
the disease (see also under Prospective case-control studies).<br />
Cohort studies have also been referred to as prospective studies (although<br />
any study in which subjects are followed forward in time is accurately<br />
described as prospective), incidence studies, longitudinal studies or<br />
follow-up studies.<br />
COI (see Cost <strong>of</strong> illness analysis)<br />
Committee on Safety <strong>of</strong> <strong>Medicine</strong>s<br />
The Committee on Safety <strong>of</strong> <strong>Medicine</strong>s (CSM) is an advisory body consisting<br />
<strong>of</strong> drug experts, set up to advise the UK ministers <strong>of</strong> health (the<br />
Licensing Authority) on drug licensing. Drug licence applications sent to<br />
the <strong>Medicine</strong>s Control Agency are evaluated by its secretariat and recommendations<br />
about granting <strong>of</strong> the licences made with the advice <strong>of</strong> the<br />
CSM. The latter also advises on licence applications which are sent to the<br />
European <strong>Medicine</strong>s Evaluation Agency (EMEA) for Europe-wide approval.<br />
For such applications, one <strong>of</strong> the EU member countries acts as rapporteur<br />
to co-ordinate all the responses. The CSM also produces a regular leaflet on<br />
current problems in pharmacovigilance (http://www.open.gov.uk/mca/).<br />
Community health councils<br />
Community health councils are independent bodies first set up in 1974 by<br />
the UK government to represent the interests <strong>of</strong> the public in the health<br />
service in their area.<br />
Community Health Index (see under Cluster sampling)<br />
Compliance<br />
<strong>Medicine</strong> compliance raises highly complex issues and for this reason there<br />
is no consensus on its definition. However, a common working definition<br />
is 'the extent to which patients adhere to the advice given by the health<br />
care provider'. The term 'adhere' is now generally preferred to 'comply' in