Users' Guides to the Medical Literature
Guyatt G, Rennie D, Meade MO, Cook DJ
Part A The Foundations
Chapter 4. Finding the Evidence
Ann McKibbon, Peter Wyer, Roman Jaeschke, Dereck Hunt
Soundness of Evidence-Based Approach
Topics Discussed:
approach to medical literature, finding the evidence, information resources, qualitative research, summarizing the evidence
Excerpt:
"Efficient searching involves choosing information sources appropriate
for the clinical question—in much the same way you choose diagnostic
tests appropriate for your patient's symptoms.
The scheme in Table 4-1 offers an initial
guideline for making choices. If a fully integrated and reliable
resource (a "system" type resource) is likely
to address your question, you would be wise to consider it. Depending
on the level of detail you need, a practice guideline or systematic
review, or a well-done synopsis of a guideline or systematic
review, could be the next best option. For some questions,
you will seek individual studies.An evidence-based information resource will provide access to
a representative sample of the highest quality of evidence addressing
a clinical question. Evidence-based resources that summarize evidence will
explicitly frame their question, conduct a comprehensive search, assess
the validity of the individual studies, and if
appropriate provide a pooled estimate of the impact of the outcomes of
interest (see Chapter 19, Summarizing the
Evidence). Evidence-based resources that provide recommendations
will use existing systematic reviews, or conduct their
own, to provide best estimates of benefit and risk of
alternative management strategies for all patient-important
outcomes. They then will use an appropriate system to grade
recommendations and will make explicit underlying values
and preferences (see Chapter 21,
How to Use a Patient Management Recommendation)...."
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