21 Nov 2019
Some of the most influential organisations in the UK veterinary profession have come together for a landmark collaboration on evidence-based veterinary medicine.
James Westgate
Job Title
In what is being described as a landmark for the veterinary profession, 15 of the major UK member organisations, vet schools and policy-making bodies have come together to affirm their commitment to veterinary medicine based on sound scientific principles.
The publication, “Evidence-based veterinary medicine matters: our commitment to the future”, has been produced by RCVS Knowledge and the charity Sense about Science.
It is the first time this group has formally united in support of a single issue, and serves to demonstrate the profound and wide-ranging impact evidence can have – and has had – on animal health and welfare.
It also aims to provide a convincing rationale for all veterinary professionals to contribute to the evidence base and put evidence into practice, to the benefit of animals, owners and veterinary teams themselves.
The signatories are:
The commitment is set in the context of 14 case studies that showcase the impact of standout veterinary research and evidence in the 20th and 21st centuries.
Spanning small animal, farm, equine, nursing, animal welfare and agriculture, the case studies show that different types of evidence have been key to major steps forward in veterinary medicine.
The group stated: “When rigorous research underpins medical decisions, adverse events can be minimised and patient outcomes can be improved.
“We believe evidence-based veterinary medicine reinforces the sound scientific principles of the profession, and strengthens the commitment to put animal health and welfare at the forefront of all we do.”
