Evidence value in modern medicine

Evidence is the basis of modern medicine. Clinical research provides us with this evidence, guiding health professionals to lve the problems that they face in everyday practice. Understanding that research and applying it toedical practice can be challenging and will require careful consideration. Epidemiology and the application of established approaches help to guide practitioners to diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment of patients (Croft, 2015)

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The evidence for evidence-based medicine is all collected via research, which uses a variety of study designs. Different study designs provide information of different quality. In observational studies, the researcher observes and collects information, but does not try to change the people being observed. By contrast, in an experimental study, the researcher intervenes to change something (e.g. gives the patient a drug) and then observes what happens. In an observational study, there is no intervention (uOttawa, 2017).

The traditional model of clinical practice incorporates diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment. Diagnosis classifies the sick patient as having or not having a disease. Historically, diagnosis was regarded as the primary guide to prognosis and treatment of the patient. Disease diagnosis often occurred without effective treatment leading to a poor outcome for the patient (Fletcher, 2014).

But now, there is a demand for health care to deliver proven quality and better outcomes for the patient. The science of prognosis focuses with improving the precision, accuracy, and usefulness of measures of likely future outcomes. Prognosis offers an alternative starting point looking at all factors that are relevant to patient outcomes other than diagnosis alone (Croft, 2015).

Evidence value in modern medicine