Pressures on practice

The desire to fill these knowledge gaps is driving the need to supplement your own experience with evidence. You should not feel reluctant to admit to gaps in your knowledge. Given the amount of information available, no-one can know everything.

The important thing is to have the skills to find the information that you need from the evidence available. This is where evidence–based health care (EBHC) can help. It involves a change in the way we make health care decisions:

The central feature of EBHC is the use of evidence, derived from sound, systematic research. This, allied with your expertise, ability to assess each case on its individual merits and your patient's preferences, will help you make sound, informed decisions. We are already seeing how evidence–based practice has had real benefits for patients in some areas.

By providing better access to high quality research, and developing the skills to integrate it with individual expertise and patient values, we can greatly relieve the pressures on practice and improve patient care.

INTRODUCTION page 11 of 14