PubMed · 10435837
The source did not provide an abstract. Follow the original record for more information.
Explore connections, maps & timelines
H Buchan. 1999. Increasing effectiveness.. https://doi.org/10.1093/intqhc%2F11.3.185
Cite the original work for its findings. Save a collection to share your selection of sources.
KEEP EXPLORING
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Specialists in internal medicine have a strong research and evidence culture, and there is a large evidence base, particularly for diagnostic tests and therapeutics. Deficiencies in evidence exist in the area of clinical diagnosis, including the sensitivity, specificity and positive and negative predictive values of clinical signs. The practice of evidence-based medicine (EBM) by internal medicine specialists is hindered by lack of clinical information support systems for ongoing practice evaluation, benchmarking and improvement. Many internal medicine practitioners are moving towards the use of clinical practice guidelines to aid the EBM process. A greater acceptance of EBM processes, including evaluation and guidelines, and resolving issues of distrust of bureaucracies, practitioner protection and consumer privacy, would increase the use of EBM in internal medicine.
Psychiatry was one of the first medical specialties to use the tools of evidence-based medicine (EBM)--randomised controlled trials (RCTs), systematic reviews with meta-analyses--and as many treatment decisions in psychiatry are evidence-based as in general medicine. Psychiatrists have some reservations about the EBM approach because of perceived limitations in methodology of RCTs and systematic reviews; gaps in the evidence base; problems interpreting the available evidence; and neglect of individual patient uniqueness in quantitative research based on groups or populations. Research supports the value of psychotherapy and there are now a number of empirically validated efficacious psychotherapies for a range of disorders.