What does research mean for a clinician?

Abstract

In the era of evidence-based medicine (EBM), most clinicians maintain their practice separate from their research, in contrast to clinicians a century earlier. Clinicians routinely perform diagnostic and therapeutic procedures after observing patients and discerning their problems,and it is normal for them to reflect on the outcomes from their practices. Based on this routine work, some clinicians conceive of hypotheses related to the clinical courses of their patients,and theymay intend to verify these hypotheses. The actions of such clinicians in fact constitute a form of research, which may be made public as a case report. Case reports that are carefully prepared by practicing clinicians are likely to be the most significant in furthering medical wisdom. Clinicians should therefore take full responsibility for their patients, whose problems may be the means of future resolution of issues in clinical medicine. Educators should accept the task of assisting trainees in the research mentality.