The evidence - based medicine is one that includes medical practice within the extracted information from the trials and scientific studies in order to give patients the best care.
In order to make better use of the large amount of information that comes from constant research in the health area, different computer tools are used.
Evidence-based or evidence-based medicine relies on the knowledge gained through research in order to improve the quality of medical care provided to patients. Source: pixabay.com
The incursion of technological tools in medicine has led to great advances in various areas, including the massification of information, which can be obtained in a very short time.
The concept appeared in the 90s, being also known as evidence-based medicine. It arose at the renowned McMaster University located in Canada, in whose medical school transformations were carried out in the curriculum in order to give importance to scientific evidence and its inclusion in daily medical practice.
The main objective of this discipline is based on the aid directed towards the reduction of the health losses of the people, as well as in the increase of the quality of the medical attention.
Given the unmanageable amount of information available and the need of the professional to take effective actions for the health of patients, evidence-based medicine arises.
The methodology used revolves around training, as well as the acquisition of skills aimed at obtaining the maximum benefit from the knowledge to effectively solve the cases.
In evidence-based medicine, a combination of the knowledge, the experience of the doctor and the information acquired from the evidence is made.
History
Before the emergence of the concept of evidence-based medicine, there were several attempts aimed at improving the practices of science to increase the well-being of patients.
During the 19th century, the French physician Pierre Charles Alexandre Louis stressed the importance of taking large-scale results into consideration.
That is, he highlighted the error that medicine focused only on the knowledge obtained through the evaluation of a single individual for scientific construction.
Likewise, in the middle of the 20th century (between the 1950s and 1960s) Archibald Cochrane dedicated himself to defending the relevance of clinical trials in terms of contributing to medical knowledge.
While at the McMaster University School of Medicine in Canada, in the decade between 1970 and 1980, the term evidence-based medicine was first coined.
A transformation was carried out in the curriculum in which priority is given to keeping doctors up to date through bibliographic review and the use of new technologies.
This proposal was formally presented by the university to the scientific community in 1992.
Steps
Evidence-based medicine relies on a series of steps in order to achieve the proposed objectives.
Step 1
The first action is aimed at establishing an order in what is to be investigated.
One of the relevant factors when solving a problem, so to speak, is knowing exactly what you are looking for.
If the doctor has a patient with a disease, which by the symptoms it is not easy to determine exactly what it is or perhaps there are doubts about the appropriate treatment, the first thing to establish is what you want to know.
In this case, step 1 is associated with the formulation of a question that encompasses what you want to investigate to make an accurate diagnosis and help the patient with the most effective treatment.
Step 2
The second step is related to the factors that the health professional must take into account to carry out the investigation.
One of the most important aspects is related to the way in which you will look for the information you need to deal with the case and what are the tools that you will use.
The tools that you will use to inquire about the subject you want to know may be the printed bibliographies to which you have access or consult the web.
Step 3
For the physician, conducting research despite the high availability of technology is not always an easy task.
There are multiple difficulties that can be presented to the professional to find the right search.
The first requirement that you must meet is to possess the required skills that allow you to optimally handle technology and take full advantage of it.
Also, you should be up-to-date about the specific pages where you can get reliable and quality information in a short period of time.
Step 4
It is the last action that will lead to the completion of the task and the fulfillment of the objectives proposed by evidence-based medicine.
It involves the application of the information obtained through research, as well as the inquiries made by various means.
This step is related to the application of the knowledge obtained through the investigation for the resolution of the case presented by the patient.
At this time, the doctor will inform the person about the latest treatments or trials successfully applied in other patients and based on this, they will choose the best option to achieve well-being.
Methodology
The method used by evidence-based medicine to optimally respond to the patient's discomfort is based on the combination of knowledge or skills.
In the first instance, the clinical experience of the doctor is taken into consideration, which refers specifically to the accumulated knowledge plus the skills acquired after practicing with patients.
source: pixabay.com
The knowledge accumulated by the health professional is made up of the learning acquired during their years of study added to those that come from continuous work.
On the other hand, in order to issue a satisfactory response and provide quality care to patients, which achieves the proposed objectives, you must resort to a bibliographic review.
This investigation must be thorough and rigorous. For this, the doctor must be prepared and have a solid knowledge of computer tools.
Since the advent of new technologies, medicine is one of the sciences that has benefited because professionals have a large volume of information in a very short time.
However, one of the skills required for the review to be fruitful and serve for the professional to make the best decision is that he or she has extensive management and knows how to find the information.
Advantage
The advantages of evidence-based or evidence-based medicine are multiple. Among them, the main one is related to the improvement of methods to treat various diseases.
This is achieved by doctors through exhaustive research of the quality information that will lead them to solve the health problems of their patients.
The methodology used allows the health professional to stay updated and constantly learning.
Likewise, the decisions will be well founded, since it will include the knowledge acquired by the doctor during the years of study, those that come from his experience and that he can access through research.
The use of technology allows the professional to have at their disposal all the new information that comes from tests and studies that have been carried out recently.
Disadvantages
One of the first disadvantages with respect to the establishment of evidence-based medicine resides in the non-acceptance of a part of the medical profession due to various circumstances.
One of the causes that make doctors doubt is based on disbelief over some clinical trials, as well as a resistance to transforming the methods with which they have traditionally been working.
In addition, it requires training aimed at health professionals in which they can acquire the skills and abilities to find the required information with little time and effort.
This requirement can generate difficulties because there is not always a training available or perhaps some doctors are not interested in doing it or cannot for multiple reasons.
Another limitation of this model is associated with the possible lack of the required technology in some health centers with low budgets.
On many occasions, the information available on a certain topic does not exist or does not have the required scientific evidence and in that case evidence-based medicine could not be used.
References
- Unfounded assertions. What is Evidence-Based Medicine (EBM)? Taken from unfounded assertions.com
- Castellanos, O. A, Vásquez, M. P, I, (2016). What is evidence-based medicine? Taken from Medigraphic.org
- McGee, D, (2015). Evidence-based medicine and clinical guidelines. MANUAL MSD. Taken from msdmanuals.com
- Ortiz, Z. García, D. M, Laffaire, E. Evidence-based medicine. Taken from uns.academia.edu
- Rivera, W. C, (2004). Evidence-based medicine. The medicine of the 21st century. Magazine Med Hond.
- Sanchez, M. M, (2001). Evidence-based medicine in Mexico: Luxury or necessity? Anales Medicos Magazine.