Evidence-based Obstetrics and Gynecology

Evidence-based Obstetrics and Gynecology is aimed at practicing obstetricians, gynecologists, and trainees in the specialty. It concentrates on the clinical practice areas of diagnosis, investigation and management. It does not compete with the standard textbooks which cover aetiology, scientific background as well as management.

The first section of the book discusses evidence-based medicine methodology in the context of the two specialties, showing readers how to perform effective literature searches themselves and apply the results in their own practice. The second and third sections cover all the major conditions in obstetrics and gynecology, each chapter reviewing the best available evidence for management of the particular condition. The chapters are structured in line with ebm methodology, ie cases generate the relevant clinical questions, followed by discussion and grading of the evidence. Graded recommendations will be in line with ACOG guidelines.

The dating issue: a frequent criticism of textbooks is that they are out of date before they are published. Paradoxically in evidence-based practice, this is less true. Recommendations for optimum interventions are based on systematic reviews of large trials, which take several years to publish and synthesise. Hence recommendations for evidence-based practice normally remain unchanged for longer than reports of published trials would suggest.