Randomized Clinical Trials and Observational Studies: Is There a Battle?
Menée à partir des données 1973-2008 des registres américains des cancers et des données d'essais portant respectivement sur 393 840 et 13 932 patientes atteintes d'un cancer du sein, cette étude montre que l'estimation des effets de la radiothérapie sur la mortalité diffère selon l'origine des données utilisées
As physicians, we aim to make clinical decisions based on evidence. There are many definitions of evidence-based medicine. Some restrictive definitions understand it as a process to systematically find, appraise, and use research findings as the basis for clinical decisions. The term evidence-based medicine has changed. Now the concept also includes the careful balance of risk and benefits associated with treatments or diagnostic tests, taking into account each patient’s unique circumstances, including baseline risks, comorbid conditions, and personal preferences and values. When appraising the evidence, unfortunately we must accept that evidence does not mean certainty. Thus, a careful review of the available data is imperative.
Journal of Clinical Oncology , éditorial en libre accès, 2016