Impact Your Practice with Evidence-Based Medicine and
Hill's Evidence-Based Clinical Nutrition

Hill's is proud to be the first pet food company to promote Evidence-Based Medicine (EBM), and to apply EBM to veterinary clinical nutrition (Hill's Evidence- Based Clinical Nutrition`) as a tool for making clinical decisions and managing patient care.

EBM is the integration of best research evidence with clinical expertise and patient values.' Best research evidence is defined as clinically relevant research, especially from patient-centered clinical trials.

Clinical expertise refers to the ability to use clinical skills and past experience to rapidly identify each patient's unique health state, establish a diagnosis, and determine Grade UL the risks and benefits of potential interventions for that individual patient.

In veterinary medicine, the concept of patient values is extended to include the unique preferences, concerns and expectations of the owner and the pet (patient).

The integration of these three elements combined with the clinical judgment, skill and experience of the veterinarian helps optimize clinical outcomes and quality of life.

The concepts of EBM can be applied to veterinary clinical nutrition. Hill's Evidence-Based Clinical Nutrition' integrates medical and nutritional research with clinical practice in the most efficient manner.' As with EBM, Hill's Evidence-Based Clinical Nutrition` uses the current best evidence, clinical expertise and the preferences of the owner and pet to develop a comprehensive feeding plan that results in optimal patient outcomes.

The following classification scheme has been proposed for qualifying the types of evidence encountered in veterinary clinical nutrition. The quality of evidence is categorized into four grades:

Grade I:
Includes evidence obtained from properly designed, randomized, controlled patient clinical trials conducted with the target species. This is the highest quality evidence and the most reliable predictor of results likely to be seen in clinical practice.

Grade II:
Includes evidence obtained from properly designed, randomized, controlled studies conducted with the target species in a laboratory or research animal setting. Grade II evidence is a good predictor of results likely to be seen in clinical practice.

Grade III:
Includes evidence obtained from appropriately controlled, non-randomized studies, appropriately designed cohort or case-controlled studies, studies that used acceptable models of disease or simulations in the target species, or dramatic results in uncontrolled studies.

Grade IV:
Includes evidence obtained from studies conducted in the non-target species, reports of expert committees, descriptive studies, case reports and expert opinions.

Hill's is committed to helping veterinarians provide the best care possible for their patients. Part of that commitment includes development of innovative nutritional technologies supported by Grade I and Grade II clinical evidence. Through Hill's Evidence- Based Clinical Nutrition" veterinarians and their health care teams can take a proactive role in utilizing nutrition as a key component in wellness and therapeutic protocols, and optimize the care they deliver to their patients.

For more information, contact Pets Corner Sdn Bhd at 03-4043 2420 or visit www.HillsVet.com.