How to use research to support your treatment decisions
It can be hard to know which medical research to believe. One day you may hear that drinking alcohol is good for your heart. The next day you may hear that alcohol makes it more likely that you'll get breast cancer. And your friend may swear that a treatment you've never heard of saved his mother's life.
Not all medical research is good. Some studies are more reliable than others. So we've put together some guides to help you weigh up the evidence and work with your doctor to choose the treatment that is best for you.
Making better decisions
Why do I need evidence-based medicine?
Only by looking at all the evidence and judging it can you work out what the research really says about a treatment.Weighing up the risks and benefits
Follow an example of weighing up the risks and benefits of treatments for a stroke.Understanding risks
Learn what doctors mean when they talk about risk, and find out how risk may affect your decisions about treatments. (Contains interactive animations.)How to make the best decisions about treatment
You and your doctor should talk about your choices and make a decision together about the best treatment for you.How to pick the best studies
There are different types of studies, but not all of them are reliable.Shared decision-making: working with your doctor
Here are some things to remember when talking to your doctor about your condition and your treatment choices.