Evidence-Based Medicine in Obstetrics and Gynecology

Abstract

While all clinicians want to use the best evidence to make health care decisions, with 37 reviews, 47 randomized control trials (RCTs), and two guidelines published every day, it is impossible for practicing clinicians to keep up with all the new evidence and decide whether it is sufficient to suggest that they should change their practice. This book provides a summary of evidence for the major clinical areas of practice within the specialty of Obstetrics and Gynecology (OB/GYN), and this chapter (i) provides an overview and context, discussing the history of evidence based medicine (EBM) in OB/GYN; (ii) describes the importance and conduct of a systematic evidence review, a hallmark of EBM and contemporary evidence-based decision-making; and (iii) provides additional EBM resources and references for interested readers.