From knowledge to clinical practice: the introduction of evidence-based medicine.

Introduction. - The paper presents the new paradigm for medical practice wh ich has been emerging for a decade: evidence-based medicine. Current knowledge and key points. - The paradigm proposes new skills for th e physicians, deemphasizing intuition and empiricism in medical practice, a nd proposes the intensive use of medical literature for the medical practic e. Future prospects and projects. - The article presents the main characterist ics of the approach which is raising new important questions about the evol ution of medical practice and the validity of the paradigm. (C) 2000 Editio ns scientifiques et medicales Elsevier SAS.