[Evidence-based medicine--a critical overview].

BACKGROUND

Evidence-based medicine (EBM) is a strategy for the standardization of medical decision-making. The purpose of this review was to demonstrate the most important tools of EBM and to critically appraise them.

METHODS

The current literature concerning the subject is reviewed. A clinical example for the systematic use of EBM in diagnostic tests is explained in detail.

RESULTS

The risk of an increasing bureaucratic hindrance of medical procedures by EBM is weighed against 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 practice.

CONCLUSION

The critical use of the systematic tools of EBM for clinical decision-making is recommended.