Critics of evidence-based medicine maintain that good evidence is often deficient in many areas, that lack of evidence and lack of benefit are not the same, and that the more data are pooled and aggregated, the more difficult it is to compare the patients in the studies with the patient in front of the doctor, i.e. EBM applies to populations, not necessarily to individuals. In The limits of evidence-based medicine, Tonelli argues that "the knowledge gained from clinical research does not directly answer the primary clinical question of what is best for the patient at hand." Tonelli suggests that ...

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Evidence-based medicine, Evidence-based medicine - Overview, Evidence-based medicine - History, Evidence-based medicine - Qualification of evidence, Evidence-based medicine - Categories of recommendations, Evidence-based medicine - Limitations of available evidence, Evidence-based medicine - Criticism of evidence-based medicine, Evidence-based medicine - Note

Read more here: » Evidence-based medicine: Encyclopedia II - Evidence-based medicine - Criticism of evidence-based medicine

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Evidence-based medicine, Evidence-based medicine - Overview, Evidence-based medicine - History, Evidence-based medicine - Qualification of evidence, Evidence-based medicine - Categories of recommendations, Evidence-based medicine - Limitations of available evidence, Evidence-based medicine - Criticism of evidence-based medicine, Evidence-based medicine - Note

Read more here: » Evidence-based medicine: Encyclopedia II - Evidence-based medicine - Overview

It is recognised that not all evidence is made accessible, that this can limit the effectiveness of any approach, and that effort to reduce various publication and retrieval biases is required. Failure to publish negative trials is the most obvious gap, and moves to register all trials at the outset, and then to pursue their results are underway. Changes in publication methods, particularly related to the Web should reduce the difficulty of getting a paper on a trial that concludes ...

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Evidence-based medicine, Evidence-based medicine - Overview, Evidence-based medicine - History, Evidence-based medicine - Qualification of evidence, Evidence-based medicine - Categories of recommendations, Evidence-based medicine - Limitations of available evidence, Evidence-based medicine - Criticism of evidence-based medicine, Evidence-based medicine - Note

Read more here: » Evidence-based medicine: Encyclopedia II - Evidence-based medicine - Limitations of available evidence

A medical guideline (also called a clinical guideline, clinical protocol or clinical practice guideline) is a document with the aim of guiding decisions and criteria in specific areas of healthcare, as defined by an authoritative examination of current evidence (evidence-based medicine). Guidelines usually include summarized consensus statements, but unlike the latter, they also address practical issues. Clinical guidelines briefly identify, summarize and evaluate the best evidence and most current data abo ...

Including:

Guideline medical - Reference

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Orthomolecular medicine or optimum nutrition, emphasizes the use of natural substances found in a healthy diet such as vitamins, dietary minerals, enzymes, amino acids, glyconutrients, and essential fatty acids in the prevention and treatment of diseases. Orthomolecular medicine focuses on the role of proper nutrition in relation to health. Nutrition comes first in medical diagnoses and treat ...

Including:

Orthomolecular medicine - Method Orthomolecular medicine - Popularity Orthomolecular medicine - Relation to conventional medicine Orthomolecular medicine - Evidence of effectiveness Orthomolecular medicine - Evidence against effectiveness

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The Cochrane Collaboration developed in response to Archie Cochrane's call for systematic, up-to-date reviews (currently known as systematic reviews) of all relevant randomized controlled trials of health care. Cochrane's suggestion that the methods used to prepare and maintain reviews of controlled trials in pregnancy and childbirth should be applied more widely was taken up by the Research and Development Programme, initiated to support the United Kingdom's National Health Service. Funds were provided to establish a 'Cochrane ...

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Cochrane Collaboration - Goal Cochrane Collaboration - Location of studies

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Medical consensus is a public statement on a particular aspect of medical knowledge available at the time it was written, and that is generally agreed upon as the evidence-based, state-of-the-art (or state-of-science) knowledge by a representative group of experts in that area. Its main objective is to counsel physicians on the best possible and acceptable way to diagnose and treat certain diseases or how to address a particular decision-making area. Therefore, it can be considered an authoritative, communit ...

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The Australian Medicines Handbook or AMH is a medical reference text commonly used in practice by health professionals (particularly general practitioners and pharmacists) in Australia. It is a highly-regarded source of concise, independent drug information to aid in the practice of evidence-based medicine. The AMH is largely based on the model of the British National Formulary (BNF) but contains completely Australian content. The AMH is published by an independent company – Australian Medicines Handbook ...

Including:

Australian Medicines Handbook - Structure Australian Medicines Handbook - History Australian Medicines Handbook - Past editions Australian Medicines Handbook - Further information

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Holistic health is a non-medical philosophy of well-being that considers the physical, mental, and spiritual aspects of life as closely interconnected and balanced [1]. Advocates of the holistic health philosophy typically seek or use a wide variety of alternative practices, the most common of which include acupuncture, chiropractic, naturopathy, and homeopathy. Advocates of alternative medicine often employ the use of the holistic health philosophy to claim that conventional medicine does not address the needs of the patient a ...

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The Cochrane Library is a collection of databases in medicine and other healthcare specialties provided by the Cochrane Collaboration. At its core is a database of systematic reviews and meta-analyses which summarise and interpret the results of high-quality medical research. The Cochrane Library aims to make the results of well-conducted controlled trials readily available. It is a key resource in evidence-based medicine. The Cochrane Library is freely available on the W ...

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Adverse effect, in medicine, is an abnormal, harmful, undesired and/or unintended consequences, although not necessarily unexpected, which is obtained as the result of a therapy or other medical intervention, such as drug/chemotherapy, physical therapy, surgery, medical procedure, use of a medical device, etc. Iatrogenesis (literally, generated by a physician) is a common cause of adverse effects, as well as medical error. Using a drug or other medical intervention which is contraindicated may increase the risk of adverse effects. Adverse effects may cause medical complication ...

Including:

Adverse effect medicine - Reporting systems
Adverse effect medicine - USA Adverse effect medicine - Australia
Adverse effect medicine - Adverse effects of medical procedures Adverse effect medicine - Adverse effects of drugs Adverse effect medicine - Controversies Adverse effect medicine - Examples of adverse effects

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Health science is the discipline of applied science which deals with human and animal health. There are two parts to health science: the study, research, and knowledge of health and the application of that knowledge to improve health, cure diseases, and understanding how humans and animals function. Research builds on the pure sciences of biology, chemistry, and physics as well as social sciences (for example medical sociology). Health science - Historical overview. The foundations for the health science fi ...

Including:

Health science - Historical overview Health science - Acquisition of health-related knowledge Health science - Application of health-related knowledge
Health science - Health delivery
Health science - Contemporary themes Health science - Health practices
Health science - Conventional Western practices Health science - Complementary and alternative medicine Health science - Spiritually-based healing Health science - Traditional medicine and folk medicine Health science - Health practices of historical interest

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Biological psychiatry, sometimes referred to as bio-psychiatry, is a term used mainly by critics of mainstream mental health practice to describe what opponents of psychiatry believe are unproven and subjective diagnostic and treatment practices in modern psychiatry. References to biological psychiatry are used specifically by critics to denote the biological model of mental health, which they believe places undue emphasis upon biological theories and psychiatric drug treatment, rather than objective diagnosis of medical pathol ...

Including:

Biological psychiatry - Biological psychiatry marketing Biological psychiatry - Criticism

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The Center for Inquiry is a transnational nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization that encourages evidence-based inquiry into science, pseudoscience, medicine and health, religion, ethics, secularism, and society. Through education, research, publishing, and social services, it seeks to present affirmative alternatives based on scientific naturalism. The Center is also interested in providing rational ethical alternatives to the reigning paranormal and religious systems of belief, and in developing communities wher ...

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Chemical imbalance is a simplification of the language sometimes used by drug companies [1] in the United States in advertising and consumer literature for psychoactive drugs after deregulation of pharmaceutical advertising. The term has its origins in the 'chemical hypothesis', which refers to a simplification of the series of hypothesised neurochemical changes thought to partially underly mental illness. This term is most often used by groups ...

Including:

Chemical imbalance theory - Chemical imbalances
Chemical imbalance theory - Use of drugs to correct Chemical imbalance theory - Limitations on the use of medications
Chemical imbalance theory - Controversy Chemical imbalance theory - Sightings in Popular Culture and Advertising Chemical imbalance theory - Diagnostic utility Chemical imbalance theory - Cautionary measures
Chemical imbalance theory - Current neuroscience perspectives Chemical imbalance theory - Critical perspectives

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Magnet therapy, or magnetic therapy, is a form of alternative medicine based on the claim that certain medical disorders can be effectively treated by exposure to magnetic fields. Some believe that magnetic fields emanating from permanent magnets placed close to the body can cause bones to heal faster, relieve pain, and perform other forms of healing to the body. It is most commonly recommended by practitioners as a cure for joint disorders and back problems. Critics charge that no verifiable evidence has been put forth that magnet therapy has any real benefits, and thus relegate it to the realm of ps ...

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In biology, evolution is the process by which populations of organisms acquire and pass on novel traits from generation to generation. Its action over large stretches of time explains the origin of new species and ultimately the vast diversity of the biological world. The living species of today are related to each other through common descent, products of evolution and speciation over billions of years. The phylogenetic tree at right represents these re ...

Including:

Evolution - Overview of evolution
Evolution - Evidence of evolution Evolution - History of evolutionary thought Evolution - Misconceptions of modern evolutionary biology Evolution - Social and religious controversies
Evolution - Science of evolution
Evolution - Academic disciplines
Evolution - The Modern Synthesis
Evolution - Heredity Evolution - Mechanisms of evolution Evolution - Speciation and extinction
Evolution - Notes and references

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Quackery is the practice of promoting medicine which lacks evidence of effectiveness. The word derives from quacksalver, an archaic word originally of Dutch origin (spelled kwakzalver in contemporary Dutch), meaning "boaster who applies a salve." It is often difficult to distinguish between those who knowingly promote unproven medical therapies and those who are mistaken as to their effectiveness. In libel cases in US courts against people who accused others of being guilty of quackery, the co ...

Including:

Quackery - History Quackery - Quackery today Quackery - Reasons quackery persists

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Antihypertensives are a class of drugs that are used in medicine and pharmacology to treat hypertension. There are many classes of antihypertensives, which—by varying means—act by lowering blood pressure. Evidence suggests that reduction of the blood pressure by 5-6 mmHg can decrease the risk of stroke by 40%, of coronary heart disease by 15-20%, and reduces the likelihood of dementia, heart failure, and mortality from vascular disease. Which type of medication to use initially for hypertension has been the subject of sever ...

Including:

Antihypertensive - Available drugs Antihypertensive - Choice

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Systems to stratify evidence by quality have been developed, such as this one by the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force: Level I: Evidence obtained from at least one properly designed randomized controlled trial. Level II-1: Evidence obtained from well-designed controlled trials without randomization. Level II-2: Evidence obtained from well-designed cohort or case-control analytic studies, preferably from more than one center or research group. Level II-3: Evidence obtained from multiple time series w ...

See also:

Evidence-based medicine, Evidence-based medicine - Overview, Evidence-based medicine - History, Evidence-based medicine - Qualification of evidence, Evidence-based medicine - Categories of recommendations, Evidence-based medicine - Limitations of available evidence, Evidence-based medicine - Criticism of evidence-based medicine, Evidence-based medicine - Note

Read more here: » Evidence-based medicine: Encyclopedia II - Evidence-based medicine - Qualification of evidence