Evidence-based medicine and knowledge dissemination, translation, and utilization: Challenges of getting evidence-based treatments to patient care and service delivery

Abstract

The aim of this article is to explore challenges associated with effective utilization of best available scientific evidence on what works and what is potentially harmful in health, mental health, and social care. A gap exists between the production of high quality evidence on what has proven to be successful and the utilization of this evidence in human services. Patients and service users do not always receive interventions supported by the best available scientific evidence. Methods of evidence-based medicine and evidence-based practice have emerged as promising approaches to remedy this deficit. Furthermore, implementation and translational research, supported by multi-disciplinary efforts, is emerging as another approach to bring best available evidence to service delivery settings. Although these approaches are promoted by diverse stakeholders in many countries, we are still waiting for rigorous evaluations of these approaches to understand their effectiveness in comparison to traditional ways of delivering interventions and other types of services in human services organizations. © 2009 Blackwell Publishing Asia Pty Ltd and Chinese Cochrane Center.