Objective: To describe the philosophy and approach to patient care called evidence based medicine, and to highlight how it can enhance the practice of intensive care.
Data Sources: We searched MEDLINE, reference lists, and our personal files to identify relevant literature.
Study Selection: Articles on intensive care practice, critical appraisal, clinical research, and healthcare delivery were selected for discussion.
Data Synthesis: We summarize the rationale for evidence based medicine, its applications and future developments, and suggest several methods for intensivists to use evidence based medicine in their practice and teaching.
Conclusions: Evidence based medicine can complement other foundation disciplines in intensive care. This is the first article in a series entitled ``Evidence Based Critical Care Medicine'' which will demonstrate how this approach can be used at the bedside.
(Crit Care Med 1996; 24:334-337)