The veterinary nurse's role in evidence-based medicine

The term evidence-based medicine is something that as veterinary nurses and technicians we see and hear in the veterinary media and in the work place more and more frequently, but how does it really effect what we do in our roles in veterinary practice. Evidence-based veterinary medicine (EBVM) is the use of clinical methods and decision making that have been thoroughly tested by properly controlled, peer-reviewed veterinary research. Evidence-based veterinary medicine is the use of best relevant evidence in conjunction with clinical expertise to make the best possible decision about a veterinary patient. The circumstances of each patient, and the circumstances and values of the owner/carer, must also be considered when making an evidence-based decision (Straus et al, 2005).

As veterinary professionals we need to be using EBVM, rather than just ‘doing something’ because we've always done it that way. There, however, may not be any evidence to support why we do things a certain way, it could be a tradition, anecdotal evidence or a recommendation from a respected colleague. There is a lack of methodically performed, rigorous, large-scale clinical studies in veterinary medicine (Dean, 2013). All veterinary professionals are well placed to undertake research within the practice in order to help increase the evidence base that we have for veterinary medicine. This can be in the form of clinical audits, retrospective reviews of cases or looking at population characteristics on your practice management system.