Which therapeutic interventions in critical care medicine have been shown to reduce mortality in prospective, randomized, clinical trials? A survey of candidates for the Belgian Board Examination in Intensive Care Medicine.
OBJECTIVE
To highlight the lack of randomized controlled trial (RCT) evidence in support of accepted therapeutic interventions in the intensive care unit by assessing the ability of Intensive Care Board Examination candidates to cite relevant studies.


METHODS
As part of the Board Examination for Intensive Care Medicine in Belgium, candidates were asked to name accepted therapeutic interventions that have been shown to reduce mortality in RCTs.


METHODS
Survey of doctors.


METHODS
Candidates for the 1998 Board Examination for Intensive Care Medicine in Belgium.


METHODS
None


RESULTS
Of the 46 candidates, 25 (54%) gave no response and 3 (7%) stated that no such study exists; 16 responses from 13 doctors were considered acceptable answers.


CONCLUSIONS
Candidates for the Board Examination of Intensive Care in Belgium were unable to list many accepted interventions in critical care medicine that are supported by RCT evidence. The RCT may not be the most appropriate tool for assessing the value of an intervention in the intensive care environment.
Vincent
J L
JL
Department of Intensive Care, Erasme University Hospital, Free University of Brussels, Belgium. jlvincen@ulb.ac.be
D001530:Belgium; D003422:Critical Care; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine; D017052:Hospital Mortality; D006801:Humans; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D013044:Specialty Boards; D016896:Treatment Outcome