E-drug: Evidence based medicine
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
One of our most popular newspapers, the Newvision (20 August
2001, p32), published an article: "Poor countries access free
medical journals". The article quoted the Washington Post in stating
that evidence-based medical literature will allow doctors to find
answers to questions and help them in making good clinical
decisions, rather than relying on memory, customary practice or
advice of authority figures.
Though I agree that evidence and research is needed, many such
'research studies' have caused erratic changes in policy. Take, for
example, a study that proved that milk is bad for health. And
another well conducted study proved the contrary: that milk is good
for health. In another case, a study showed that marriage is bad for
the female sex -- Later, another study showed that marriage is good
for both male and female human beings.
The view here is that as much as we need evidence and research
studies, we should never put aside logic, sound reasoning and
professional facts. After all, most studies are not designed out of
genuine concern for suffering, but out of pursuit of prizes, money
and recognition. Some 'research findings' or 'evidence' can be
misleading!
Sincerely,
George Kibumba, MPS
Community and Drug Information Pharmacist
Uganda
e-mail: kibumba@yahoo.com or did.jms@imul.com
--
Send mail for the `E-Drug' conference to `e-drug@usa.healthnet.org'.
Information and archive http://satellife.healthnet.org/programs/edrug.html
Mail administrative requests to `majordomo@usa.healthnet.org'.
For additional assistance, send mail to: `owner-e-drug@usa.healthnet.org'.