Flashcards on Introduction to Medical Science
Introduction to Medical Science: Your Guide to Evidence-Based Practice
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Evidence-based Medicine principles
76 cards
Card 1
Question: What are the three core elements (pillars) of clinical decision-making in evidence-based medicine (EBM)?
Answer: Best available scientific evidence, clinical expertise, and patient values/preferences.
Card 2
Question: Why are systematic reviews and meta-analyses prioritized for clinical decisions in EBM?
Answer: They synthesize results from multiple studies, reducing influence of outliers or biased findings and providing the most reliable evidence.
Card 3
Question: How should clinicians balance the three pillars when making decisions?
Answer: Integrate best research evidence with clinician expertise and patient values to provide scientifically sound, personalized care.
Card 4
Question: Give an example of applying the three pillars when choosing treatment for Type 2 diabetes.
Answer: Consult current guidelines (scientific evidence), apply experience from similar cases (clinical expertise), and discuss the patient’s lifestyle goals
Card 5
Question: Why must clinicians regularly update their knowledge in EBM?
Answer: Medicine evolves quickly, so yesterday’s best practice may be outdated; continuous updates from reliable resources keep care current.
Card 6
Question: Name three reputable, continuously updated resources recommended for staying current in EBM.
Answer: UpToDate, Cochrane Library, and ClinicalTrials.gov.
Card 7
Question: How does clinical expertise complement scientific evidence in practice?
Answer: Expertise fills gaps where evidence is incomplete, helps recognize atypical presentations, and adapts evidence to the specific clinical context.
Card 8
Question: Why are patient values and preferences essential even when strong evidence supports a treatment?
Answer: Because a scientifically recommended treatment may conflict with a patient’s wishes or ability to manage it, so respecting preferences ensures appropr
Card 9
Question: Give a clinical example of scientific reasoning used in diagnosing a fever.
Answer: Doctors combine knowledge of infection physiology with test results (e.g., blood counts) to determine if the fever is likely viral, bacterial, or due
Card 10
Question: When should antibiotics be prescribed according to scientific reasoning described here?
Answer: When evidence suggests a bacterial cause and considerations include common pathogens, local resistance patterns, and how the drug acts in the body—rec