Clinical Evidence: Navigating the Maze

What is Clinical Evidence?

Clinical Evidence is
a continuously updated (a new version of the entire database comes out
every 6 months) compendium of evidence on the effects of common clinical
interventions, published by the BMJ Publishing
Group. It is a unique product that is driven by questions rather than
available evidence, and it provides a concise account of the current state
of knowledge, ignorance, and uncertainty about the prevention and treatment
of a wide range of clinical conditions. based on thorough searches of
the literature.

Clinical Evidence records are based on thorough searches of the
MEDLINE and Embase databases, as well as reviews of other sources, such
as the Cochrane Library, Database of Abstracts of Reviews of Effects (DARE),
TRIP Database, and Bandolier.

How is Clinical Evidence Arranged?

The Clinical Evidence database
is arranged into specialty areas, then topics. Examples:

• Child Health
  • Acute Otitis Media
  • Asthma in Children
• Eye Disorders
  • Acute Anterior Uveitis
  • Age Related Macular Degeneration

What is the Format of a Clinical Evidence Record?

Records provide a brief summary
on the state of evidence in each topic. Information is provided in Questions,
Interventions and Key Messages sections. Interventions are divided into
categories:

Beneficial: Interventions
whose effectiveness has been demonstrated by clear

evidence from controlled trials.



Likely to be beneficial: Interventions whose effectiveness is
less well

established than for those listed under "beneficial".

Trade off between benefits
and harms: Interventions for which clinicians and patients should
weigh up the beneficial and harmful effects according to individual
circumstances and priorities.

Unknown effectiveness:
Interventions for which there is currently insufficient data or data
of inadequate quality.

Unlikely to be beneficial:
Interventions for which lack of effectiveness is less well

established than for those listed under "likely to be ineffective
or harmful".

Likely to be ineffective
or harmful: Interventions whose ineffectiveness or harm has been
demonstrated by clear evidence.

Records also sometimes provide
a reference section for the topic, describing definition, incidence/prevalence,
aetiology/risk factors, prognosis, etc.

How Can I Learn More about Clinical Evidence?

For more information about the print or online versions of
Clinical Evidence, visit the product's home
page at the BMJ Web site. You may register for a free trial of the
product.

Clinical Evidence is also available by subscription
from Ovid
Technologies.

To try the Clinical Evidence database, go to http://gateway.ovid.com and enter:


ID = uvademo

PASSWORD = knowhow




This Free code is courtesy of Ovid Technologies, and will be active
through April 24th, 2003.