Our method
In this section
Step 1: Selecting a topic
Step 2: Selecting the questions
Step 3: Finding the evidence
Step 4: Making sense of the evidence
Step 5: Presenting the answers
New medical studies are published every day. How do you sort through the mountain of research to find facts you can trust? And once you find a study, how do you understand its findings and judge how good it is?
BestTreatments looks at medical research that is published in journals all over the world. It does this by using Clinical Evidence, a collection of the best research evidence for doctors. Clinical Evidence looks at all the evidence and decides how well treatments work, whether the research is good enough and how serious the side effects are. Sometimes no one knows for sure whether a treatment works because the research that's been done isn't good enough. Or it could be that not enough research has been done. Clinical Evidence gives doctors and other heath care workers a good up-to-date summary of what's known and what isn't about treating a wide range of clinical conditions. It's published by the BMJ Publishing Group. BestTreatments adds to the Clinical Evidence research, making the evidence easy for patients to read and letting them see the research evidence that doctors see. We follow a strict process to develop each topic on BestTreatments. The key steps are described below.
Step 1: Selecting a topic
BestTreatments covers chronic (persistent) illnesses that affect a high proportion of people in the United States. We are guided by national health statistics, physicians and patient groups. Our topics match those covered in Clinical Evidence.Step 2: Selecting the questions
We cover the treatment options for each condition and, for patients, present background information to explain the condition itself. BestTreatments works with Clinical Evidence, an international team of doctors, and patient groups to determine the questions that matter most to doctors and patients. What evidence exists to say ACE inhibitors work in heart failure? What are the side effects of treatments for childhood asthma? Are there trials that prove herbal remedies are safe?Step 3: Finding the evidence
All our information is based on research evidence and high-quality medical papers. Here is how we gather this evidence:Information about treatments
The treatment information in BestTreatments is based on the Clinical Evidence publication. For each treatment question, the CE team of medical information specialists conducts an exhaustive search for studies that measure the effectiveness of treatments. This search encompasses large-scale and small-scale published studies. They look for the highest-quality study -- a systematic review of trials -- and then for good-quality randomized controlled trials. If the specialists can't find a good review or trial, they will include other studies and highlight the limitations of these. Once the research has been collected, our information specialists weigh the evidence and filter out the poor studies using a validated tool developed by experts in research methodology.1 2 This thorough research helps us explain not just what treatment works best, but also why certain treatments work. If you would like to read more about how we search for and select studies, see the Clinical Evidence Web site (http://www.clinicalevidence.com).Information about conditions
The information we provide patients to explain their condition is based on high-quality original medical papers and textbooks identified by our information specialists. On each page of the site, you will find the sources we have used.Step 4: Making sense of the evidence
The research evidence for each treatment is analyzed and summarized by a practicing physician who is regarded as a key opinion leader in his or her particular speciality. Each topic is then reviewed and checked by at least three more physicians. Then, a leading expert provides advice on how physicians can put this research evidence into practice. A team of in-house and freelance writers translates this evidence for patients and writes the supporting information that explains each condition.Deciding which treatments work
We categorize each treatment according to whether there is evidence it works or not. We use slightly different language to describe the categories than you'll find in Clinical Evidence, but the treatments are grouped the same. This is what they mean:| Category | What it means |
|---|---|
| Treatments that work | There's clear evidence from randomized controlled trials that the intervention works, and the likelihood of harms is small compared with the benefits. |
| Treatments that are likely to work | Whether the treatment works is less well-established than for those listed under "Treatments that work." |
| Treatments that work, but whose harms may outweigh benefits | Clinicians and patients need to weigh the benefits and harms according to individual circumstances and priorities. |
| Treatments that need further study | We don't know if the treatments are effective because there is either too little research to tell or the quality of the research is inadequate. |
| Treatments that are unlikely to work | It is less well-established whether these interventions do not work compared with those in the group "Treatments that are likely to be ineffective or harmful." |
| Treatments that are likely to be ineffective or harmful. | Clear evidence shows the intervention is ineffective or harmful. |
Step 5: Presenting the answers
All the information on BestTreatments is edited by an in-house team of editors and checked by our staff doctors. This is medical research evidence you can use, put together by a team you can trust.