Effectiveness of evidence-based medicine instruction in medical school clerkships

Abstract

Introduction: The instruction of evidence-based medicine (EBM) in health sciences institutions is increasing. As used in medical schools, it looks to implement research-oriented approaches to clinical interventions and further develop the skills of medical students in evaluating and applying research.
Objectives: This study aimed to identify the effectiveness of an evidence-based medicine clerkship offered at a single institution to third-year medical students during their surgery rotation.
Methods: Two surveys were used to assess the quality of education provided during the third-year clerkship. The first was sent to practicing residents who had completed the clerkship as medical students. The second was sent to residency directors overseeing residents with prior enrollment in the clerkship.
Results: Twelve former students (out of total email list of 125) and six residency program directors (out of an email list of 13) completed this survey. Previous students felt confident about EBM fundamentals like question formulation and database navigation and, to a lesser degree, attributed their knowledge of databases and critical appraisal to their clerkship experience. Residency program directors acknowledged that residents had good EBM-related skills, but it was inconclusive as to whether this could be attributed to prior clerkship experience.
Conclusion: Both questionnaires attested to the retention of some EBM competencies and the effectiveness of librarian-led instruction. Feedback was particularly positive in areas such as navigating information resources and evaluating peer-reviewed research.
Keywords: Evidence-based medicine, libraries, clerkships, residents