Evidence-informed education in the health care science professions

The use of evidence to inform the practice and policy of professional education in the health care sciences is taking on an increasingly important role alongside the use of more traditional types of knowledge. It is an addition to the repertoire in this and many professions that draw on social-science discipline knowledge. In the field of health care science professional education, the Best Evidence Medical Education Collaboration (BEME) leads the movement toward evidence-informed practice. It is a movement not without controversy, and lively debate on epistemological and practical issues is in progress. With publication of the first BEME Reviews in 2005, this debate will be extended. We can expect energetic and healthy commentaries on both the review process and the substantive findings. All this will make a valuable contribution to an important aspect of professional education practice and policy that is here to stay.