부산대학교 도서관

India is the most populous in the world. Its healthcare ecosystem and the spectrum of diseases seen make it the ideal place to carry out research. It also demands that practices are evidence-based to conserve precious healthcare resources. There are, however, challenges encountered in practicing evidence-based medicine in India. These include a lack of researchers trained in the practice of EBM, a paucity of funds in the research field as well as lack of familiarity among physicians with EBM. Training in the 5 steps of EBM, acronymized as the 5 As (Ask, Acquire, Appraise, Apply, and Assess) is essential for all healthcare professionals, It is critical to identify research gaps before undertaking any form of research to avoid unnecessary duplication. A systematic search of literature is useful in generating evidence maps which can help in identifying areas requiring further studies. The task before us is also to build an army of astute health care professionals armed with skills of EBM, who can separate the grain from the chaff and be the torchbearers of evidence-based practices. There is a need to encourage a culture of EBM, where it is the responsibility of every clinician to calibrate the most evidence-based solution to their setting and administer it taking into account the values and beliefs of the patient. That would be the point of the union of the science and art of evidence-based medicine.