title: Evidence-based decision making in transfusion medicine.
abstract: Some of the basic principles behind evidence-based medicine have been known for many years; however, the concept and approach to integrating evidenced-based decision making into clinical practice on a day-to-day basis has only evolved over the past 15 years. This paper focuses on five important steps in evidence-based decision making: (1) the importance of a well-defined question; (2) ways to effectively search the scientific literature; (3) the process of critical appraisal for an article about therapy; (4) the role of clinical expertise, patient values, clinical circumstances and society's expectations in the decision-making process; and (5) continuous quality improvement of the process.
authors.affiliation: McMaster Transfusion Research Program, McMaster Uiversity, Canadian Blood Services, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. heddlen@mcmaster.ca
authors.forename: N M
authors.initials: NM
authors.lastname: Heddle
mesh_terms: D001803:Blood Transfusion / Q000379:methods*; D003657:Decision Making; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D012924:Social Conditions; D017749:Total Quality Management