Evidence-based decision-making: when it is worthwhile

Supporting shared decision making when clinical evidence is low.

Shared decision making (SDM) is the process of providing the patient with critical information that can support his or her informed participation in decision making. Shared decision making has become accepted as an important component of quality health care. Influenced by its foundations in law and ethics and by empirical work on its value as a tool to reduce variability in care, a perception h...

Strengthening evidence-based decision-making: is it possible without improving health system stewardship?

BACKGROUND Health systems worldwide have always suffered resource constraints. Therefore, making decisions informed by scientific evidence to optimize costs and prevent wastage of resources is both important and necessary. The current study was designed to identify barriers to evidence-based decision-making (EBDM) in Iran's health system. METHODS Participants were purposively selected. In-dept...

[Tracheostomy in the ICU: is it worthwhile?].

OBJECTIVE To determine the feasibility of performing tracheostomy in the intensive care unit (ICU) environment and to assess procedure-related complications and mortality. METHODS The medical records of the 73 patients submitted to tracheostomy in the ICU of the Federal University of São Paulo Hospital São Paulo between January and November of 2003 were evaluated retrospectively. All operatio...

In-water resuscitation--is it worthwhile?

OBJECTIVES At present, there is no reliable information indicating the best option of rescuing a non-breathing drowning victim in the water. Our objectives were to compare the outcomes of performing immediate in-water resuscitation (IWR) or delaying resuscitation until the victim is brought to shore. MATERIAL AND METHODS A retrospective data analysis was conducted of non-breathing drowning vi...

Community Water Fluoridation: is it Still Worthwhile?