1 minScientific Concept
Scientific Concept

Evidence-Based Medicine

What is Evidence-Based Medicine?

Evidence-Based Medicine (EBM) is the conscientious, explicit, and judicious use of current best evidence in making decisions about the care of individual patients. It means integrating individual clinical expertise with the best available external clinical evidence from systematic research.

Historical Background

The concept of EBM gained prominence in the 1990s, driven by the need to improve the quality and effectiveness of healthcare. It emphasizes the importance of using scientific evidence to guide clinical practice and policy decisions.

Key Points

9 points
  • 1.

    Involves formulating a clinical question based on a patient's problem.

  • 2.

    Searching for the best available evidence to answer the question.

  • 3.

    Critically appraising the evidence for its validity and applicability.

  • 4.

    Integrating the evidence with clinical expertise and patient values.

  • 5.

    Evaluating the outcomes of the clinical decision.

  • 6.

    Emphasizes the use of systematic reviews and meta-analyses to synthesize evidence.

  • 7.

    Promotes the use of clinical practice guidelines based on evidence.

  • 8.

    Requires healthcare professionals to stay up-to-date with the latest research.

  • 9.

    Encourages shared decision-making between healthcare providers and patients.

Recent Developments

5 developments
→

Increased availability of online resources and databases providing access to evidence-based information.

→

Growing emphasis on the development and implementation of clinical practice guidelines.

→

Integration of EBM principles into medical education and training.

→

Use of technology to support EBM, such as electronic health records and decision support systems.

→

Efforts to promote EBM in low- and middle-income countries.

This Concept in News

1 topics

Supreme Court sets precedent for stem cell use in autism treatment

23 Feb 2026

The news about the Supreme Court's decision on stem cell therapy for autism highlights the critical importance of evidence-based medicine in protecting vulnerable populations from potentially harmful and ineffective treatments. This news demonstrates how the absence of rigorous scientific evidence can lead to the exploitation of patients and the promotion of unproven therapies. The court's ruling reinforces the principle that medical interventions should be subject to stringent regulatory oversight and that healthcare providers have a legal and ethical obligation to practice evidence-based medicine. This news also reveals the challenges in balancing patient autonomy with the need to protect patients from harm. Understanding EBM is crucial for analyzing this news because it provides a framework for evaluating the scientific validity of medical claims and for assessing the ethical implications of medical practices. Without a solid understanding of EBM, it is difficult to critically assess the claims made by proponents of unproven therapies and to understand the rationale behind the court's decision.

Source Topic

Supreme Court sets precedent for stem cell use in autism treatment

Polity & Governance

UPSC Relevance

Important for UPSC GS Paper 2 (Governance) and GS Paper 3 (Science and Technology). Questions can be asked on the principles of EBM, its application in healthcare, and the challenges of implementing EBM in practice.

This Concept in News

1 news topics

1

Supreme Court sets precedent for stem cell use in autism treatment

23 February 2026

The news about the Supreme Court's decision on stem cell therapy for autism highlights the critical importance of evidence-based medicine in protecting vulnerable populations from potentially harmful and ineffective treatments. This news demonstrates how the absence of rigorous scientific evidence can lead to the exploitation of patients and the promotion of unproven therapies. The court's ruling reinforces the principle that medical interventions should be subject to stringent regulatory oversight and that healthcare providers have a legal and ethical obligation to practice evidence-based medicine. This news also reveals the challenges in balancing patient autonomy with the need to protect patients from harm. Understanding EBM is crucial for analyzing this news because it provides a framework for evaluating the scientific validity of medical claims and for assessing the ethical implications of medical practices. Without a solid understanding of EBM, it is difficult to critically assess the claims made by proponents of unproven therapies and to understand the rationale behind the court's decision.