title: Evidence-Based Knowledge Management: an approach to effectively promote good health-care decision-making in the Information Era.
abstract: The sharing of information and the growth of knowledge together represent a foundation for the promotion of quality improvement of health care systems. This paper concerns knowledge, not only from an epistemological point of view, but also from a pragmatic one. In our paper, knowledge is discussed as the hub to promote better decision making and continuous professional development. Effective thinking is particularly needed. The critical point is to think about how health care systems can develop both an effective knowledge management network and how health-care organizations can actually be based on it. In this way, knowledge and knowledge hierarchy are defined according to Russel Achkoff's vision. Generally, knowledge is crucial in decision-making, and Evidence-Based Medicine has its roots in knowledge. In particular, information management is the basis for a significant production of knowledge to promote good health-care decision-making. Thus, relationships between knowledge management and Evidence-Based Medicine are discussed, and a new paradigm is proposed: the Evidence-Based Knowledge Management. Finally, the role of Evidence-Based Knowledge Management within Clinical Governance is discussed together with some considerations about clinical governance implementation problems in Italy.
authors: Laboratory of Clinical Epidemiology, Biostatistics, and Knowledge Management, Biomedical Department of Internal Medicine, University of Palermo, Piazza delle Cliniche 2, Palermo, Italy. s.corrao@tiscali.it
authors: Salvatore
authors: S
authors: Corrao
authors: Vincenzo
authors: V
authors: Arcoraci
authors: Sabrina
authors: S
authors: Arnone
authors: Luigi
authors: L
authors: Calvo
authors: Rosario
authors: R
authors: Scaglione
authors: Cristofaro
authors: C
authors: Di Bernardo
authors: Roberto
authors: R
authors: Lagalla
authors: Achille Patrizio
authors: AP
authors: Caputi
authors: Giuseppe
authors: G
authors: Licata
mesh_terms: D003657:Decision Making; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine; D006801:Humans; D008490:Medical Informatics; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians' / Q000458:organization & administration