Evidence-based Medicine I Course Guide (Archived): Introduction

At the conclusion of this course, students will be able to perform the following ability-based outcomes.

• Use an evidence based medicine approach to answer clinical questions by identifying and evaluating relevant online and print information (primary literature, reference books, databases, journal articles, etc.).
• Provide answers to clinical questions orally and in writing aimed at other healthcare professionals.
• Describe the following approaches to clinical research design and common statistical tests used in these studies: meta-analyses, systematic reviews, randomized controlled trials, case-control studies, cohort studies, descriptive studies, and qualitative studies.
• Calculate and interpret standard EBM measures such as number needed to treat, number needed to harm, event rates, relative risk, odds ratios, sensitivity, and specificity.
• Distinguish between nominal, ordinal, and interval types of measurement and indicate which statistical tests are appropriate for each type of measurement.
• Interpret the risk of disease based on results from diagnostic and screening tests.
• Describe Type I and Type II errors and how they affect the statistical significance and power of a test.
• Distinguish between null and alternative hypotheses, state the basic steps of hypothesis testing, and interpret confidence levels.
• Evaluate the clinical literature to estimate the probability of drugs and treatments benefiting or harming patient populations.
• Identify strategies for clinicians to discuss the clinical evidence with their patients for shared decision making and find relevant educational resources to foster patient education.
• Work in interprofessional groups to effectively present a journal club using the PP-ICONS approach.