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Pharmaco-epistemology for the prescribing geriatrician

  1. David G Le Couteur1,
  2. Hal Kendig2

Article first published online: 14 FEB 2008

DOI: 10.1111/j.1741-6612.2007.00271.x

Issue

Australasian Journal on Ageing

Australasian Journal on Ageing

Volume 27, Issue 1, pages 3–7, March 2008

Additional Information

How to Cite

Le Couteur, D. G. and Kendig, H. (2008), Pharmaco-epistemology for the prescribing geriatrician. Australasian Journal on Ageing, 27: 3–7. doi: 10.1111/j.1741-6612.2007.00271.x

Author Information

  1. 1

    Centre for Education and Research on Ageing, Concord RG Hospital and the ANZAC Research Institute, Concord, New South Wales, and the University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

  2. 2

    Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

*Correspondence to: Professor David G Le Couteur, Centre for Education and Research on Ageing, Concord RG Hospital. Email: dlecouteur@med.usyd.edu.au

Publication History

  1. Issue published online: 14 FEB 2008
  2. Article first published online: 14 FEB 2008

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Keywords:

  • epistemology;
  • evidence-based medicine;
  • geriatric medicine;
  • pharmacology

Clinicians are becoming more reliant on their interpretation of clinical trial information to guide prescribing rather than their clinical skills. Thus to improve prescribing, it is increasingly important for clinicians to have an appreciation of epistemology (the science of knowledge and its interpretation) and the broader social context of knowledge. The insights of epistemologists can be useful in understanding the different ways in which clinical trials data are interpreted.

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