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Doody's Review ServiceReviewer: Melissa M. Ranieri, BS, PharmD (Temple University School of Pharmacy)
Description: This book outlines a simple, systematic approach to evaluating literature and applying current findings to clinical practice. Intended for pharmacy students and practitioners, it focuses on five steps to analyze literature in a scientific and informed manner.
Purpose: It attempts to simplify the process of evaluating evidence-based medicine while helping practitioners accurately interpret findings. The ultimate goal of this process is to apply current research to the clinical practice setting. The book relies on the scientific method in interpreting and applying the literature in making clinical decisions. This process allows for informed decisions in caring for patients, rather than relying on tradition or trial and error, which are commonly used and less reliable. The book succeeds in fulfilling its purpose in allowing readers to easily evaluate literature and develop recommendations for the clinical setting. It guides practitioners with five simple steps to evaluate evidence-based medicine, uses examples from the literature, and provides further reading recommendations.
Audience: Although intended for pharmacy students and practitioners, the book could be used by any one who has had basic training in evaluating literature as a guide or as an update in interpreting evidence-based medicine. The authors are both professors at the University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Pharmacy. Many of the concepts in the book have been taught as a course in evidence-based medicine for nine years. The authors outline their recommendations for evaluating literature in an organized, scientific, and understandable fashion.
Features: A chapter is dedicated to each of the five steps used to evaluate evidence-based medicine: define the clinical question, retrieve patient information, evaluate the literature, categorize quality of evidence, and develop a conclusion and recommendation. These concepts are discussed in a comprehensive, logical and easy to interpret manner. Thus, the book succeeds at simplifying the process of evaluating literature without compromising the integrity of the information. Key concepts are highlighted throughout the book. These "Key Ideas" serve as a quick reference, while emphasizing crucial points. Tables and figures visually convey important learning tools. Examples from the literature appear throughout the book to highlight concepts, which helps readers apply them in interpreting the literature. Finally, a glossary at the end of the book defines important terms.
Assessment: This is an important contribution and a practical tool that can be used to interpret evidence-based medicine. The book simplifies the process and allows readers to easily understand the steps needed to accurately analyze the literature and apply the findings to patient care.