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ePaper created 2014-09-15, 12:31:02 | version 1.32.01
Evidence Based Dermatology (EBD) Shortly after Gordon Guyatt’s introduction of Evidence Based Medicine (EBM) in 1992, many departments of dermatology began performing systematic reviews (SRs). Our department initiated a close relationship with the Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics to improve its skills in methodology. The first evidence based systematic review in dermatology, written in 2003 on the treatments of psoriasis, was the basis for the first national evidence based guideline for the Dutch Society of Dermatology and Venereology and the first European guideline.[1,2,3] Summarizing and grading the existing evidence help clinicians when making decisions for diagnostic and therapeutic interventions. SRs expose what evidence is missing and what’s on the agenda for future research. A good example of this is the guideline for off-label azathioprine and randomized controlled trials comparing azathioprine and methotrexate for atopic dermatitis.[4] Another aspect which becomes visible due to the systematic approach of EBD is the huge variety in diagnostic criteria and outcome parameters.[5] The harmonisation (www.comet-initiative.org) and improvement of outcome parameters (www.cosmin.nl), besides focusing more and more on patient reported outcomes, is now a new field of research in the department, with a view to better patient care. In addition the department got involved in the ongoing quality of life research.[6] In 2010 the harmonizing outcome measures for eczema (HOME) initiative (www.homeforeczema.org) was initiated.[7,8] Recently the Grading Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation, GRADE (www.gradeworkinggroup.org) methodology was introduced and is now incorporated in the department’s research. Phyllis Ira Spuls In 2013 Phyllis Spuls (1964) was appointed as professor in Evidence based Dermatology at the University of Amsterdam (AMC). The department continues to play a role in EBD education with, for example, critical appraisal of topics (CAT), high-quality clinical research, guideline development, the harmonization of outcome parameters and patient registries. 46 BWEADVSMGFINCORR:Opmaak 1 21-07-2014 17:39 Pagina 46