Evidence-based radiology: A new approach to the practice of radiology

In this review, the principles of evidence-based health care and their appl ication to radiology are discussed. Evidence-based health care involves the more formal integration of the best research evidence with clinical expert ise and explicit acknowledgment of patient values in clinical decision maki ng, as compared with conventional practice. Recently, many health care disc iplines have adopted the principles and practice of evidence-based health c are. In radiology, including its diagnostic and interventional aspects, the se developments have received limited attention. This review of evidence-ba sed health care could, therefore, be useful to radiologists at any stage of their training or career, to encourage the practice of evidence-based radi ology. The development of evidence-based health care is described, and evid ence-based health care and evidence-based radiology are defined. The import ance of evidence-based health care as a new approach to the practice of med icine and its importance for transdisciplinary collaboration are discussed. The skills required to practice evidence-based radiology are identified, a nd the roles of evidence-based radiology in radiologic practice, education, and research are discussed.