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Evidence Based Underwriting

Introduction

The concept of Evidence Based Medicine (EBM) dates back to mid 19th century and, during the last two decades, has evolved to a strong research area radiating into all areas of modern medicine. To practise EBM means to integrate individual clinical expertise with the best available external clinical evidence from systematic Research.

Medical decision-makers such as doctors increasingly face the Sisyphus' task to draw the right conclusions from a flood of external evidence for the benefit of a single patient. This is where EBM can help. Its major objective is to analyse the bulk of medical information by using standardised approaches to evaluate the validity of existing evidence and to develop rational and useful therapeutic recommendations based on sound epidemiological/biostatistical data. This EBM approach can also be regarded as a constant problem-oriented process of learning that contains the following elements:

  • Translate information needs into focussed questions
  • Obtain current best evidence to answer these questions
  • Critically appraise validity and usefulness of obtained evidence
  • Apply findings in practice by also using individual clinical expertise
  • Evaluate effect of modified clinical practice
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