Managing the evidence flood.

The problem of lack of transfer of knowledge in surgery is well illustrated by the variations in surgical practice across areas and countries. Surgery is not unique in this respect, and such variations have been documented in virtually all specialties and in primary care. The first issue is recognition that there is an inescapable and growing information problem. Unless we focus some of our research and practice effort on better organizing, filtering, and using the research that we have, the gap between what we know and what we do will continue to grow.