Evidence based critical care medicine: What is it and what can it do for us?

Objective: To describe the philosophy and approach to patient care called evidence based medicine, and to highlight how it can enhance the practice of intensive care. Data Sources: We searched MEDLINE, reference lists, and our personal files to identify relevant literature. Study Selection: Articles on intensive care practice, critical appraisal, clinical research, and healthcare delivery were selected for discussion. Data Synthesis: We summarize the rationale for evidence based medicine, its applications and future developments, and suggest several methods for intensivists to use evidence based medicine in their practice and teaching. Conclusions: Evidence based medicine can complement other foundation disciplines in intensive care. This is the first article in a series entitled ''Evidence Based Critical Care Medicine'' which will demonstrate how this approach can be used at the bedside.