Testing Treatments

How do we know whether a particular treatment really works? How reliable is the evidence? And how do we ensure that research into medical treatments best meets the needs of patients? These are just a few of the questions addressed in a lively and informative way in Testing Treatments. Brimming with vivid examples, Testing Treatments will inspire both patients and professionals. Building on the success of the first edition, Testing Treatments has now been extensively revised and updated. The Second Edition includes a thought-provoking chapter on screening, explaining why early diagnosis is not always better. Other new chapters explore how over-regulation of research can work against the best interests of patients, and how robust evidence from research can be drawn together to shape the practice of healthcare in ways that allow treatment decisions to be reached jointly by patients and clinicians. Testing Treatments urges everyone to get involved in improving current research and future treatment, and outlines practical steps that patients and doctors can take together.

Paul Glasziou is Director of the Centre for Evidence Based Medicine University of Oxford and editor of the journal Evidence Based Medicine (BMJ Publishing Group)

Chris Del Mar is Dean of the Faculty of Health Sciences and Medicine, Bond University and Associate Editor of Evidence Based Medicine

Janet Salisbury is Director of Biotext and responsible for the book's high quality design