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How medical know-how progresses

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  • Nelson, Richard R.
  • Buterbaugh, Kristin
  • Perl, Marcel
  • Gelijns, Annetine

Abstract

The conventional wisdom regarding the source of progress in medical practice highlights the role of basic scientific research into the nature of disease pathologies. This perspective neglects the important role of two other sources of progress in medicine. One is the advance of technologies that have enabled the development of new modalities of treatment and diagnosis. The other is learning in clinical practice. In many cases the advance of treatment has involved the interaction of all three of these pathways to progress.

Suggested Citation

  • Nelson, Richard R. & Buterbaugh, Kristin & Perl, Marcel & Gelijns, Annetine, 2011. "How medical know-how progresses," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 40(10), pages 1339-1344.
  • Handle: RePEc:eee:respol:v:40:y:2011:i:10:p:1339-1344
    DOI: 10.1016/j.respol.2011.06.014
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Richard J. Murnane & Richard R. Nelson, 2007. "Improving the Performance of the Education Sector: The Valuable, Challenging, and Limited Role of Random Assignment Evaluations," Economics of Innovation and New Technology, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 16(5), pages 307-322.
    2. Michael C. Christensen & Alan Moskowitz & Ardesheer Talati & Richard R. Nelson & Nathan Rosenberg & Annetine C. Gelijns, 2007. "On the Role of Randomized Clinical Trials in Medicine," Economics of Innovation and New Technology, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 16(5), pages 357-370.
    3. Mowery,David C. & Nelson,Richard R. (ed.), 1999. "Sources of Industrial Leadership," Cambridge Books, Cambridge University Press, number 9780521645201.
    4. Metcalfe, J.S. & James, Andrew & Mina, Andrea, 2005. "Emergent innovation systems and the delivery of clinical services: The case of intra-ocular lenses," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 34(9), pages 1283-1304, November.
    5. Mina, A. & Ramlogan, R. & Tampubolon, G. & Metcalfe, J.S., 2007. "Mapping evolutionary trajectories: Applications to the growth and transformation of medical knowledge," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 36(5), pages 789-806, June.
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    Keywords

    Innovation; Medicine;

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