Lecture 2 - Evidence Based Medicine

Question 1

What makes a causal link more likely?

Answer 1

If a biologically plausible mechanism is likely or demonstrated

Question 2

What is an example of a biologically plausible mechanism strengthening the case for a casual link?

Answer 2

Citrus fruit was shown to prevent scurvy long before vitamin C was discovered

Question 3

What is evidence based medicine?

Answer 3

The conscientious (search) explicit (appraised) and judicious (appropriate) use of current best evidence in making decisions about the care of individual patients

Question 4

What needs to be considered in evidence based medicine?

Answer 4

Clinical judgement
Relevant scientific evidence
Patients values and preferences

Question 5

What is meant be scientifically proven to work?

Answer 5

You are more likely to benefit than not or it is better than the other treatment (however not always)

Question 6

What is absolute risk?

Answer 6

When you are more likely to benefit from a treatment than not

Question 7

What is relative risk?

Answer 7

When 2 treatments are compared and decided whether one is better than the other

Question 8

How do you work out relative risk?

Answer 8

Divide the 2 percentages (risk ratios) by each other