During the last decade, the production of medical information has doubled every 2 years. This dramatic rate of changing medical knowledge presents a challenge for physicians to keep themselves up to date. Since accessibility to a medical library as a source of information is limited, the Internet may be a possible alternative. The Internet is a relatively cheap way to receive updated information, whether written, audio or videotaped, all of which is available from the comfort of home, 24h a day, at the cost of little more than a local telephone call.
Physicians are usually eager for the latest medical information.
His approach integrates individual clinical expertise with the best available external clinical evidence from systematic research. Through this method new information is located, identified and its significance evaluated. If the new information has been proven to be reliable and relevant, it is integrated into existing information systems to be used by physicians all over the world. In other words, rather than medical decisions being made on the basis of outdated information, a hunch or intuition, this approach allows the physician to review what has been shown to be effective and on that basis make an operative decision. The lowest level of evidence is expert opinion and the personal communication source, also known as someone once told me .