Page "Evidence-based medicine" Paragraph 10

Generally, there are three distinct, but interdependent, areas of evidence-based medicine.

The first is to treat individual patients with acute or chronic pathologies with treatments supported in the most scientifically valid medical literature.

Thus, medical practitioners would select treatment options for specific cases based on the best research for each patient they treat.

The second area is the systematic review of medical literature to evaluate the best studies on specific topics.

This process can be human-centered, as in a journal club, or technical, using computer programs and information techniques such as data mining.

Increased use of information technology turns large volumes of information into practical guides.

Finally, evidence-based medicine can be understood as a medical " movement " in which advocates work to popularize the method and usefulness of the practice in the public, patient communities, educational institutions and continuing education of practicing professionals.