THE VALUE COMPONENT OF EVIDENCE-BASED MEDICINE: THE UTILITY ANALYSIS OF EARLY VERSUS LATE CORTICOSTEROID TREATMENT FOR GIANT CELL ARTERITIS

摘要

It is the philosophy of Evidence-based Eye Care that evidence-based medicine should provide the foundation for knowledge which will allow practitioners to provide the highest quality of medicine for patients. Although, the knowledge of a numerical or statistical change is critical, this information must be taken to another level to ascertain the true value of evidence-based discoveries to patients and society. As an example, it was shown in the Branch Retinal Vein Occlusion Study that laser treatment of macular edema occurring secondary to retinal vein obstruction yields a long-term mean visual acuity of 20/40-20/50, as compared with a mean visual acuity of 20/70 in the untreated group. But equally as important is the question, "What does this mean for the quality of life of my patient?"