Evidence-based medicine (EBM) is an applied aspect of clinical epidemiology. The fundamental tenet of EBM is that the practice of medicine should be based on valid, clinically relevant research data. This is in preference to the traditional method of medical training — still in sway — that is weighted more toward authoritative “experts,” espousing their best judgments, which are based on their experiences and their understandings of pathophysiology.

Evidence-based veterinary medicine is the incorporation of EBM principles into the veterinary profession.

While there is no difference in the basic concepts of EBM and EBVM (including the need to observe animal welfare practices in the conduct of research), the task facing EBVM is monumental in that veterinary medicine covers several species of animals—many of which contain multiple strains/breeds with their idiosyncrasies—and the need of clinically relevant research to support them all.

The Evidenced-Based Veterinary Medicine Association (EBVMA) is a non-profit [501(c)(3), United States] professional organization with an international scope. It was founded to better organize the emerging research, training and practice of evidence-based medicine. Evidence-based veterinary medicine is the formal strategy to integrate the best research evidence available combined with clinical expertise as well as the unique needs or wishes of each client in clinical practice. Much of this is based on results from research studies that have been critically-designed and statistically evaluated.

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