All Clinical Practice Should Embrace Research
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“In the medical field, all practices must be supported by research.”
In general, medical research can be broadly classified into basic, clinical, and translational research, with more specific subdivisions depending on the topics and methods involved. The ultimate goal of medicine is to provide high-quality, evidencebased medical services to patients, and it must always prioritize patient safety and evidence-based medical decision-making by physicians.
Prioritizing value for patients, medical professionals have been exploring various research-based practices. This necessitates ongoing efforts in both basic and clinical research to achieve successful treatment outcomes. Numerous domestic and international studies on topics applicable to patient diagnosis and treatment, are being conducted due to remarkable advancements in basic science, the introduction of new technologies, and increased government investment in research and development. This underscores the significance of disease- and patient-centered clinical research, with considerable attention being given to the commercial value of clinical research that applies and develops basic research findings in clinical practice.
In order to reflect current research trends in the field of neurourology, the June issue of the International Neurourology Journal contains articles featuring various innovative approaches and specialized content. This issue primarily focused on studies [1-5] that assessed effectiveness through high-quality experimental-control group comparisons of surgical and therapeutic interventions, encompassing a wide range of topics, as well as research on issues such as effective disease prevention [6] and reviews of symptom assessment [7]. In the clinical domain, the reliability of the studies was demonstrated through objective test validation, including assessments of drug efficacy and safety, predictions of surgical outcomes and complications, and analyses of anatomical structures related to urinary symptoms and flow rates. In the realm of basic research, a study exploring the use of artificial intelligence technology for diagnosis investigated the potential applications of cutting-edge techniques. Reviews and letters examined effective disease prevention strategies and symptom assessment methods.
The results of the articles were excellent, ensuring objectivity and reliability. Although many steps may be necessary before real-world implementation, the applicability of these results to the medical field has been sufficiently validated. This aligns with the previously mentioned commercial value of clinical research, which applies and advances basic research outcomes in clinical practice.
In the medical field, research can uncover novel ideas and values, as well as propose innovative solutions. That is, research can drive development and progress in medicine, addressing practical issues by applying research findings through interactive relationships with practice. Consequently, I believe that medical professionals have a responsibility to recommend safer and more effective interventions to patients, grounded in a holistic approach that integrates optimal research evidence, clinical expertise, and patient value.
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Conflict of Interest
KHK, the author of this article, is the editor-in-chief of International Neurourology Journal. However, they played no role whatsoever in the editorial evaluation of this article or the decision to publish it. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.