Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
Review
. 2010 Aug;126(2):613-618.
doi: 10.1097/PRS.0b013e3181de24a7.

Developing good clinical questions and finding the best evidence to answer those questions

Affiliations
Review

Developing good clinical questions and finding the best evidence to answer those questions

Patricia B Burns et al. Plast Reconstr Surg. 2010 Aug.

Abstract

Evidence-based medicine involves the integration of the best scientific evidence available with physician experience and patient preferences. One of the first steps in evidence-based medicine involves developing a question based on issues encountered with patients or a disease and finding evidence to answer the question. This article is a guide to plastic surgeons in how to begin the practice of evidence-based medicine by developing clinical questions and finding evidence to answer these questions.

PubMed Disclaimer

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 2. Hierarchy of Evidence
Figure 3
Figure 3

References

    1. Sackett DL, Rosenberg WM, Gray JA, Haynes RB, Richardson WS. Evidence based medicine: what it is and what it isn't. BMJ. 1996;312:71–2. - PMC - PubMed
    1. Richardson WS, Wilson MC, Nishikawa J, Hayward RS. The well-built clinical question: a key to evidence-based decisions. ACP J Club. 1995;123:A12–3. - PubMed
    1. Schardt C, Adams MB, Owens T, Keitz S, Fontelo P. Utilization of the PICO framework to improve searching PubMed for clinical questions. BMC Med Inform Decis Mak. 2007;7:16. - PMC - PubMed
    1. Centre for Evidence Based Medicine. 2009 http://www.cebm.net.
    1. Gustilo RB, Mendoza RM, Williams DN. Problems in the management of type III (severe) open fractures: a new classification of type III open fractures. J Trauma. 1984;24:42–6. - PubMed

Publication types