Related Experiment Videos

The use of evidence-based medicine in pediatrics: past, present and future

Hans B Kersten1, E Douglas Thompson, John G Frohna

  • 1Section of General Pediatrics, Department of Pediatrics, Drexel University College of Medicine, St Christophers Hospital for Children, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19134-1095, USA. hkersten@drexelmed.edu

Current Opinion in Pediatrics
|May 14, 2008
PubMed

Insights

Evidence-based medicine (EBM) in pediatrics requires integrating research, expertise, and patient values for optimal outcomes. Pediatricians can overcome barriers to EBM with available resources and strategies for high-quality patient care.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Healthcare
  • Clinical Practice Guidelines
  • Medical Research Integration

Background:

  • Evidence-based medicine (EBM) is crucial for optimizing patient outcomes by integrating research, clinical expertise, and patient values.
  • The adoption of EBM in pediatrics faces challenges including time constraints, knowledge gaps, and resource limitations.
  • Recent advancements aim to support pediatricians in overcoming these barriers and implementing EBM effectively.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the benefits and barriers of applying evidence-based medicine in pediatric practice in the 21st century.
  • To discuss strategies for implementing evidence-based medicine in pediatric settings.
  • To outline resources available to pediatricians for enhancing their EBM knowledge and skills.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of evidence-based medicine in pediatrics.
  • Analysis of benefits, barriers, and implementation strategies.
  • Identification of resources for pediatricians.

Main Results:

  • Physicians acknowledge the value of EBM but face practical difficulties in busy clinical environments.
  • Lack of time, knowledge, and resources are significant barriers to EBM practice.
  • New developments and resources are emerging to assist pediatricians in adopting EBM.

Conclusions:

  • Pediatricians must master the EBM process to provide high-quality care.
  • Effective application of EBM involves identifying, accessing, and integrating new knowledge.
  • The reviewed resources can aid pediatricians in making evidence-based clinical decisions for patient care.
Abstract

Related Concept Videos

Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Drug Metabolism01:24

Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Drug Metabolism

In pediatric care, understanding the nuances of hepatic drug metabolism is crucial, as it significantly differs from that of adults. This divergence is primarily due to the developmental stage of drug-metabolizing enzymes, which affects how medications are processed in the body. In neonates, for instance, the activity of Phase I enzymes—critical for the initial breakdown of drugs—is markedly reduced, functioning at just 20–40% of the levels seen in adults. This reduction poses a challenge in...
Current Trends in Nursing II01:30

Current Trends in Nursing II

Trends in nursing are multifactorial and associated with changes in society, within the nursing profession, and in other professions. Notably, telehealth and remote nursing contribute to successful healthcare delivery for numerous patients and help reduce stress for nurses due to nursing shortages. Nurses can reach patients, monitor their conditions, and interact with them using computers, audio, visual accessories, and telephones—for example, remote patient monitoring systems. Likewise,...
Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Drug Distribution01:17

Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Drug Distribution

Drug distribution in the pediatric population exhibits unique challenges and considerations due to the physiological differences between children, particularly neonates and infants, and adults. A crucial aspect of pediatric pharmacology is understanding how these differences impact the pharmacokinetics of various drugs, necessitating age-specific dosing strategies to ensure efficacy and safety.Neonates and infants have a higher total body water content, ~75%–90% of their body weight, compared...
Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Drug Excretion01:26

Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Drug Excretion

In pediatric medicine, understanding the renal function and drug elimination nuances is crucial for administering safe and effective treatments. Newborns, in particular, display markedly slower renal functions than adults, profoundly affecting how drugs are cleared from their bodies. This slower drug clearance requires clinicians to extend the dosing intervals for many medications to prevent drug accumulation and toxicity while ensuring therapeutic efficacy.One key area where these adjustments...
Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Overview and Drug Absorption01:23

Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Overview and Drug Absorption

Understanding the physiological differences in the pediatric population is crucial for effective pharmacotherapy. Neonates, infants, and children exhibit significant variations in gastric pH, gastric emptying time, intestinal transit time, and biliary function. These variations profoundly affect oral drug absorption, necessitating a nuanced approach to pediatric dosing.Neonates present with a unique physiological profile, having a gastric pH greater than 4 and faster and more irregular gastric...
Methods of Documentation V: CBE01:23

Methods of Documentation V: CBE

Charting by Exception, or CBE, is a method of documentation used in healthcare, particularly in nursing, that focuses on documenting only significant or abnormal findings rather than recording every detail. This approach aims to streamline the documentation process, improve efficiency, and ensure that healthcare providers can quickly identify deviations from normalcy in patient assessments.
In CBE, healthcare professionals establish predefined standards of practice that define what constitutes...