An Integrated, Case-Based Approach to Teaching Medical Students How to Locate the Best Available Evidence for Clinical Care

INTRODUCTION: A major step of the evidence-based medicine (EBM) process is to locate the most current evidence in support of clinical care. This requires identifying and searching appropriate evidence-based resources. Medical library faculty at the Oakland University William Beaumont School of Medicine teach these skills as part of a dedicated EBM course at the end of the second year of the medical school curriculum. METHODS: A 3-hour “Locating the Best Available Evidence” session is divided into two major components: an optional 50-minute didactic lecture followed by a mandatory 2-hour interactive lab. Students formulate a PICO (patient, intervention, comparison, outcome) question from a case, develop search strategies, and gather evidence. Formative feedback is provided to the students to help them prepare for a final case presentation. RESULTS: Session effectiveness is assessed using course evaluations and the case presentation grade. Course evaluations indicate that students find this session structure to be especially helpful in learning the breadth of available EBM resources, preparing for their course case presentations, and acquiring skills for clinical clerkships. Quality of the case presentations also indicates students have acquired the necessary skills to be successful in practicing EBM skills in clerkship rotations and residency. DISCUSSION: Whether institutions have a dedicated EBM course or integrate EBM skills into the medical school curriculum, this session could easily be adapted and implemented. It could also be tailored for graduate or continuing medical education environments in any specialty.