How to teach evidence-based medicine

Abstract

Learning to practice EBM provides physicians with the tools needed to overcome some of the common barriers they face when trying to use the medical literature to solve patient problems. It does require a change in attitude and behavior and is likely to be met with some resistance. Understanding the learners' stage of behavior change is likely to facilitate educational intervention. Behavior change does not occur unless physicians are convinced of the benefits of practicing EBM. Easy access to evidence-based summaries facilitates the use of high-quality evidence. Developing the ability to access information from the medical literature, critically appraising it, and applying it to patient care requires skills that need to be taught. Most practicing physicians were not taught these skills in medical school. Excellent resources are available from which to learn and teach EBM. Multiple exposures using a variety of formats are most effective. Finally, a tool to evaluate the acquisition of knowledge and skills needed to practice EBM recently has been validated. Despite ongoing challenges, learning and teaching EBM has never been easier and each year brings new and better tools to help practitioners and educators use the best available evidence. Box 2 lists suggestions for getting started.