Values-Based Health & Social Care: Beyond Evidence-Based Practice

Engaging firmly in the debate, this book calls into question the dominance of evidence-based practice and sets out an alternative vision of care which places holism, professional judgment, intuition, and client choice at its center. Bringing together writers from a range of health and social care backgrounds, the book describes the rise of evidence-based practice and explores major criticisms of the approach. It argues that evidence should be seen as part of a broader vision of practice which places equal value on a holistic vision of the needs of patients and clients, professional knowledge and intuition, and seeing patients and clients as partners in their care. Case studies are used throughout the book to help readers link the concepts to practice.