Why do we need research?
We need research to ensure that our health decisions will do more good than harm.
Research is structured activity that generates new knowledge. We need health and health care research because we need to know what causes illness and how illnesses can best be prevented, diagnosed and treated.
We also need research to tell us what the public and consumers of health care think and value so we can make sure that health care policy decisions take into account the issues of importance to the public.
While doctors and other health professionals have always sought to do what is best for their patients, there are many examples where they have actually done more harm than good because they have made decisions without clear research evidence. These decisions may be taken because something seemed like a good idea or was recommended by others.
For example we now know that tens of thousands of babies died from sudden infant death because of medical advice to lay a baby to sleep on his or her stomach rather than the traditional sleeping position. Research has now shown that it is safest for babies to sleep on their backs.
So we need research to know that our health decisions will not do more harm than good.
Page last edited: 30 January 2011
