Evidence based prescribing

doi:10.1136/bmj.331.7511.247

BMJ 2005;331:247-248 (30 July), doi:10.1136/bmj.331.7511.247

Editorial

Evidence based prescribing

Is the goal, but prescribers still need education, experience,and common sense

The first 150 words of the full text of this article appear below.

Evidence based medicine has been defined as "the conscientious,explicit, and judicious use of current best evidence in makingdecisions about the care of individual patients."¹ Few areasof medical practice have felt the effects of this movement moreclearly than prescribing. Until recently doctors could prescribemedicines without worrying that their choices might be judgedagainst evidence accumulated in the world's literature. Now,prescribers are increasingly expected to back up their decisionswith evidence.² Enthusiasm for evidence based prescribing iswelcome and should lead to safer and more effective use of medicines.But it also poses some real problems for prescribers.

Reliable information to underpin everyday prescribing decisionsat the point of prescription is hard to find. One solution isto provide modern information technology systems in the consultingroom or at the bedside.³ But even these may deliver too muchunfiltered information including some original research, some. . . [Full text of this article]

Simon R J Maxwell, senior lecturer

Clinical Pharmacology Unit, University of Edinburgh, Queens Medical Research Institute, Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH16 4SA {s.maxwell@ed.ac.uk)

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