Which therapeutic interventions in critical care medicine have been shown to reduce mortality in prospective, randomized, clinical trials? A survey of candidates for the Belgian Board Examination in Intensive Care Medicine

Objective: To highlight the lack of randomized controlled trial (RCT) evidence in support of accepted therapeutic interventions in the intensive care unit by assessing the ability of Intensive Care Board-Examination candidates to cite relevant studies. Design: As part of the Board Examination for Intensive Care Medicine in Belgium, candidates were asked to name accepted therapeutic interventions that have been shown to reduce mortality in RCTs. Setting: Survey of doctors Subjects: Candidates for the 1998 Board Examination for Intensive Care Medicine in Belgium. Interventions: None Measurements and Main Results: Of the 46 candidates, 25 (54%) gave no response and 3 (7%) stated that no such study exists; 16 responses from 13 doctors were considered acceptable answers. Conclusions: Candidates far the Board Examination of Intensive Care in Belgium were unable to list many accepted interventions in critical care medicine that are supported by RCT evidence, The RCT may not be the most appropriate tool for assessing the value of an intervention in the intensive care environment.