Update from Dr. Leonard

Evidence Based Wellness Care

Many patients frequently ask the value of various different treatment options.  Most of these inquiries are derived from advertising that they see or hear.  Ultimately the patient wonders "could this benefit me?"  Sometimes I know about the product or service, many times I do not.  So today I would like to discuss Evidence based clinical practice.

What is evidence based medicine?  Evidence based clinical practice (EBCP) is an approach to health care practice in which the clinician is aware of the evidence that bears on her clinical practice, and the strength of that evidence". Source: (http://hiru.mcmaster.ca/ebm/default.htm#What_is_Evidence_Based_Medicine (McMaster University).  Meaning that the practitioner decides to prescribe treatment that has a greater value than a placebo effect in a controlled setting.  The placebo effect is the measurable, observable, or felt improvement in health or behavior not attributable to a medication or treatment that has been administered.

Steps to ensure confidence in various treatment options.

1. Trust your instinct.  If it looks like and smells like a scam, it very well may be.
2. Ask for evidence.  Don't be afraid to question any practitioner why they choose a particular treatment remedy.  Have them show you evidence (preferably from respectable journals and not marketing material from them or the manufacturer).  If they are offended by your questioning, they may not fully understand the treatment or they don't have time to explain to you why you should use your resources (time, money and/or effort) for this particular treatment.  Either way, that is not a provider that you probably want to invest your faith in.
3. Do your homework.  You are your own best doctor.  The more you understand, the better off you are about understanding your health status.  (Be careful of self diagnosing based on readings from the Internet). Don't be afraid of consulting your provider.

Prescribing medication in not necessarily evidence based practice either.  Every health care profession has its share of quacks.  I have been asked in the past why I became a chiropractic physician versus a "real doctor", or patients have communicated that they receive resistance from their colleagues when informing them of their chiropractic or acupuncture visit.   I chose to practice chiropractic, acupuncture and nutrition because I believe in the body's recuperative ability of healing itself.  Sometimes it just needs some manipulation.  Sometimes it needs intervention (drugs and surgery).  There are limitations to everything, chiropractic and acupuncture are no exceptions.  I have had one patient tell me once that he would only allow an MD to manipulate his spine.  That thought scares me since 99 percent of MD's do not practice manipulation.   I have also had a patient tell me that their previous chiropractor gave them detoxifying foot baths.  Again there are limitations to everything.   Comprehensive health care, communication between providers and thorough evaluation, referrals for advanced imaging and labs are traits that are not typically found in quacks.  Look for providers not afraid to say "I don't know" as well as providers that are genuinely concerned about your health and well being.

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Yours in Health and Wellness,
Eddie Leonard D.C., F.I.A.M.A.

An Update from Dr. Leonard