Medicine encompasses both art and science: Evidence-based guidelines are no exception

Evidence-based medicine and guidelines.

Journal of Family Planning and Reproductive Health Care 2004: 30(4) Evidence-based medicine and guidelines Madam I feel it necessary to join the discussion about evidence-based medicine (EBM) and guidelines. I am dismayed about the constant negative attitude towards new contraceptives that are badly needed. I do not believe (serious safety issues aside) that contraceptives should be viewed in e...

Evidence Based Medicine and Herbal Medicine

  Evidence based medicine (EBM) can be found as far back as the 1940s. However, it was in 1972 that the concept first came into play, originated by Professor Archie Cochrane, in his book, Effectiveness & Efficiency: Random Reflections on Health Services. This was the foundation for evidence based research, and in 1992 a facility was funded by the UK government, with the aim of performing r...

The art versus the science of medicine. Are clinical practice guidelines the answer?

Art and Science in Medicine

Stethescope which he described as 'horrible quackery'. As I considered all this I realised that the medical profession and those who dealt with people have often been in opposition, and it would seem as if all the scientific advances (and there are many) have not been able to defeat the unorthodox in the care of the sick. The medical profession must, however, have an inbuilt and fundamental mot...

Evidence based medicine, guidelines and common sense.

The American Geriatrics Society [1] has recently published a set of guidelines intended to help clinicians prioritize and attend to the particular needs of older people with diabetes mellitus. This is a welcome synthesis of the disappointingly sparse worldwide literature specifically targeted towards the needs of older diabetic people. The guidelines generally emphasise that the goals of diabet...