Use of evidence in acute stroke <scp>decision‐making</scp>: Implications for <scp>evidence‐based</scp> medicine

AbstractRationale, aims and objectivesEvidence‐Based Medicine proposes a prescriptive model of physician decision‐making in which ‘best evidence’ is used to guide best practice. And yet, proponents of EBM acknowledge that EBM fails to offer a systematic theory of physician decision‐making.MethodsIn this paper, we explore how physicians from the neurology and emergency medicine communities have responded to an evolving body of evidence surrounding the acute treatment of patients with ischemic stroke. Through analysis of this case study, we argue that EBM's vision of evidence‐based medical decision‐making fails to appreciate a process that we have termed epistemic evaluation.Results and ConclusionsPhysicians are required to interpret and apply any knowledge—even what EBM would term ‘best evidence’—in light of their own knowledge, background and experience. This is consequential for EBM as understanding what physicians do and why they do it would appear to be essential to achieving optimal practice in accordance with best evidence.

Use of evidence in acute stroke decision‐making: Implications for evidence‐based medicine Journal Articles