Evidence-based medicine - a critical review

Background: Evidence-based medicine (EBM) is a strategy for the standardiza tion of medical decision-making. The purpose of this review was to demonstr ate the most important tools of EBM and to critically appraise them. Method s: The current literature concerning the subject is reviewed. A clinical ex ample for the systematic use of EBM in diagnostic tests is explained in det ail. Results: The risk of an increasing bureaucratic hindrance of medical p rocedures by EBM is weighed agains the advantages of a systematic strategy for the valid assessment of medical information. According to the clinical example EBM proves to be a valuable tool in the quantitative estimation of residual risk and reliability of diagnostic tests in everyday clinical prac tice. Conclusion: The critical use of the systematic tools of EBM for clini cal decision-making is recommended.