:: June 2009

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Highlighted Article

Getting evidence-based treatment “What is evidence-based treatment? In the last 15 years or so there's been more emphasis on testing the evidence behind biological logic or age-old assumptions handed down over the years, in a practice called evidence-based medicine. This is where biological assumptions are tested through randomised controlled trials (see below) to find out if the logic's fine, or the treatment is useless or, like the example above, dangerous. Once tested, the information is published in peer-reviewed scientific journals and used by government organisations such as the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) to make policies and guidelines for health professionals. The evidence, particularly behind drug treatments, has improved but there are still many types of treatments like surgery, physical therapies, natural therapies, dietary advice and counselling that haven't been properly tested. But even when there is evidence, you may not get treatment based on the latest evidence when you walk in your health professional's door – unless you ask for it. Asking for evidence-based treatment allows you to weigh up the benefits and risks of the treatment and talk to your health professional about your options. “