Evidence-based decision making in health care settings: from theory to practice

Area of Science:

• Health Care Management
• Evidence-Based Medicine
• Decision Science

Background:

• Evidence-based decision making (EBDM) in health care management is gaining traction, influenced by evidence-based medicine (EBM).
• Literature often compares EBDM in health care management with EBM, but direct comparisons may be flawed.
• Key differences exist in the nature of evidence, research maturity, and decision contexts.

Purpose of the Study:

• To critically examine the parallels and divergences between EBDM in health care management and EBM.
• To identify limitations in current comparisons and highlight areas for future research.
• To provide a foundation for enhanced theorizing and empirical investigation in health care EBDM.

Main Methods:

• Simultaneous review of literature on evidence-based medicine and evidence-based management.
• Comparative analysis of decision-making processes, evidence types, and research contexts.
• Identification of key differences and similarities between the two fields.

Main Results:

• Direct comparisons between EBDM in health care management and EBM are problematic.
• Significant differences exist in the nature of evidence, the maturity of empirical research, and the decision-making context.
• The enactment and application of EBDM vary considerably between medicine and management.

Conclusions:

• Future research on EBDM in health care management should acknowledge these fundamental differences.
• Theorizing on EBDM needs to be context-specific, considering the unique aspects of health care management.
• A nuanced approach is required to advance the field of evidence-based decision making in health care settings.