Evidence-based medicine is a new paradigm that is replacing the traditional, authority-based medical paradigm. In a nutshell, it is the “conscientious, explicit and judicious use of current best evidence in making decisions about individual patients. The practice of evidence-based medicine means integrating individual clinical expertise with the best available external clinical evidence from systematic research.”1

EBM involves evaluating a variety of evidence such as randomized controlled trials, systematic reviews of series of trials, meta-analyses, and other information collection and research methods. It also emphasizes the dissemination of information so that the evidence can reach clinical practice. It is closely linked with the Cochrane Collaboration, an international network of centers whose aim is to promote and foster the EBM approach by making accurate, up-to-date scientific evidence readily available to practitioners worldwide.