This process can begin when professionals describe their successes in single cases. Then studies are designed in which several patients are exposed to the treatment in a standardized procedure. If the outcome is positive, further exploration will proceed. Thus bias is reduced and a comparison of medication effect to that of a placebo can be conducted. When the studies are completed, the results are disseminated to physicians in various ways.
Journals carry the write-up of a study, including the authors' summary of findings.
Scientific meetings discuss the issue. Pharmaceutical companies send mailings promoting the results for their products and their representatives visit and inform physicians. In these ways, important findings are relayed to physicians in a timely manner. Physicians who have expertise in a few areas may therefore pay special attention to news in those areas. Physicians in academic centers may have been involved in the research and have access to results prior to their release.