Reply To: Decolonising and Valuing Indigenous Knowledge

[David N Jones]

I heard recently from a senior cardiac doctor, in a radio programme, that cardiology is the field of medicine with the highest proportion of research based practices – in other words actions which doctors and surgeons take to treat heart problems which are guided by robust research. Yet only 15% of practice is guided by robust, double-blind, highest level research (in the sense of what is recognised by the medical profession). In other words, 85% of the practice is NOT research based but derived from applying practice and experience. Other fields of medicine have LOWER ratios of research informed practice. In the light of that, social work compares not badly. We should robustly defend experience informed (including indigenous) social work practice whilst always looking to test the relevance and effectiveness of what we do and being ready to learn and change.

Sir Martin Landray on saving over a million lives – BBC The Life Scientific https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m0018ns0