Journal of Evidence-Based Practice

The use of evidence in decision-making in the context of Korean healthcare: a review: Sang-il Lee; J Evid-Based Pract 2025;1(2):51-61. Published online September 29, 2025; DOI: https://doi.org/10.63528/jebp.2025.00007

This paper examines some examples of not well integrating evidence into healthcare decision-making within the Republic of Korea, a nation characterized by a rapidly evolving and financially strained healthcare system. The review introduces various conceptual frameworks of evidence-based practice, including Evidence-Based Medicine (EBM), Evidence-Based Public Health (EBPH), and Evidence-Based Health Policy (EBHP), alongside a nuanced typology of scientific (context-free and context-sensitive) and colloquial evidence. Through brief literature reviews, the paper identifies significant barriers and crucial facilitators to effective evidence utilization. These include deficiencies in research infrastructure, accessibility gaps, the influence of political and value-based considerations, and the pervasive challenge of "decision-based evidence making." The report concludes by proposing actionable recommendations aimed at strengthening the evidence ecosystem, fostering deliberative processes, enhancing Health Technology Assessment (HTA) integration, and cultivating a robust culture of evidence-informed policy-making in Korea.

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Development of evidence-based medicine and introduction to Korea: Ga-yeon Goo, Byung-joo Park; J Evid-Based Pract 2025;1(2):31-39. Published online September 29, 2025; DOI: https://doi.org/10.63528/jebp.2025.00005

Evidence-Based Medicine (EBM) demands systematic changes across the healthcare system, essential for enhancing patient safety and quality of medical care. To address the question, "Are we adopting scientific methods to optimize patient safety and enhance treatment efficacy?", assessing the level of EBM implementation is crucial. The adoption rate of evidence-based medical practices varies across countries and medical fields, often being lower in resource-limited settings. In South Korea, there have been several documented cases where the adoption of non-evidence-based practices, such as CARVAR surgical procedures not based on scientific evidence, has led to severe patient safety issues, thereby raising significant concerns about the quality of medical care provided. Conversely, the ABBA Study exemplifies successful application of EBM, demonstrating how scientific research assessed the risk of intracranial hemorrhage in patients with low-dose PPA in OTC cold medicines. This study not only confirmed the associated risks but also influenced health policy, resulting in the withdrawal for PPA-containing OTC cold medicines in Korea. This positive example highlights the imperative for governments, healthcare institutions, and medical schools to expedite the transition to evidence-based, patient-centered healthcare by fostering a robust commitment to systematic reviews and enhanced support for clinical research. The Korean Society of Evidence-Based Medicine (KSEBM) is expected to play a significant role in embedding these core strategies domestically

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Beyond the paywall: the role of preprints in overcoming publication bias: Hyun Kang; J Evid-Based Pract 2025;1(1):7-11. Published online March 31, 2025; DOI: https://doi.org/10.63528/jebp.2025.00002

Preprints have become a transformative tool in scientific communication, addressing critical challenges of traditional publishing, including long peer-review timelines, high costs, and systemic publication bias. Publication bias, which disproportionately favors studies with positive or statistically significant results, undermines the comprehensiveness and accuracy of the scientific record. By offering an open platform for sharing all research findings, preprints ensure that studies with null or negative results are also represented, mitigating the selective publication that skews research fields and meta-analyses. The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the importance of preprints, as they facilitated the rapid dissemination of urgent findings while maintaining accessibility. Unlike traditional journals, preprints bypass lengthy review processes, enabling immediate access to data and fostering timely feedback, collaboration, and application. This inclusivity and transparency enhance trust in the research process while democratizing access to scientific knowledge. Despite their advantages, preprints face challenges, such as inconsistent quality standards, discrepancies between preprints and final publications, and risks associated with unverified findings. These challenges can complicate their use in systematic reviews and evidence-based medicine, requiring careful consideration and handling.This paper explores the interplay between preprints and publication bias, detailing how preprints can reduce bias while identifying limitations that must be addressed.