Why are some references in GIDEON linked to information from ProMED? Does this affect the status of GIDEON as an Evidence Based Medicine database?
Although ProMED often quotes news agencies, we have opted to enter these links for two reasons: 1. These are often the only citations for a given outbreak. Since the reader can now access the source they can easily judge the credibility of the note, thus fulfilling the requirement for evidence-based material. Many of these ProMED references relate to outbreaks in underdeveloped countries and remote areas, and may never find expression in more ‘credible’ publications. 2. Journal articles on a given event appear only after a delay of months to years. The daily counts of cases for current outbreaks of major diseases [Marburg, Avian Flu, Polio] link to ProMED citations of WHO, CDC etc.
