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Improving effectiveness of clinical medicine: the need for better translation of science into practice
Author(s) -
Scott Ian A,
Glasziou Paul P
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
medical journal of australia
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.904
H-Index - 131
eISSN - 1326-5377
pISSN - 0025-729X
DOI - 10.5694/mja11.10365
Subject(s) - knowledge translation , underpinning , clinical practice , certainty , health care , psychology , medical education , medicine , engineering ethics , nursing , knowledge management , computer science , political science , epistemology , philosophy , civil engineering , law , engineering
Summary Published research evidence does not automatically diffuse into clinical practice but requires active processes of translation that start with clinicians’ awareness of the science and end with patient adherence to the recommended care. Many barriers thwart the uptake of valid and clinically important research into practice, with cognitive, motivational and sociological factors on the part of health professionals being among the most important. Encouraging clinicians to question the level of scientific certainty underpinning clinical practice and to actively seek evidence that may better inform clinical decisions is a priority for improving health care effectiveness. Although there are effective strategies for improving translation of research into practice, implementing them requires agreement between and buy‐in from professional and managerial stakeholders.