Implementation of Evidence-based medicine: Which effects can be measured?

Evidence-based medicine (EBM) was proposed as a possible method of solving two of health care's present problems: the increasing flood of information and rising expenditures. Although this concept appears to be plausible, the measurable improvements in health care brought about by possible implement ation of EBM should be explicitly descibed. After having demonstrated the p resent problems as well as the necessity to solve them, we described the go als intended to be achieved by the implementation of EBM. Furthermore, the impact of EBM on medical education was described. The possible influence of EBM on the effectiveness and efficiency of health care was also considered . The conflicts caused by the introduction of EBM were demonstrated using t he example of the ,,German Guideline Discussion". Finally, three proposals were made; the integration of EBM into education, the avoiding of conflicts similar to the German Guideline Discussion and the need to alter the polit ical framework accompanying these processes.