Why does it matter?

One of the key driving forces in the development of EBP has been the length of time it takes for important evidence to become established practice.

In 1601, James Lancaster discovered that lemon juice prevented scurvy. Even though his experiment was repeated by James Lind in 1749, it wasn't until 1795 that the Royal Navy acted on the evidence. The Merchant Navy followed only in 1865.

Part of the delay was due to financial pressures. Ship owners were unwilling to spend money on barrels of juice or use space on the ships for growing vegetables. This is a problem that is familiar to health care professionals today!

You can find more information about the background to EBP in the James Lind Library (www.jameslindlibrary.org)