Abstract
Purpose: To assess the impact of a 4-week evidence-based medicine (EBM) and health literacy assignment on medical students’ confidence to find, critically appraise and summarize literature and then appropriately communicate it to patients using plain language principles. The results will be used to evaluate and redesign the assignment, a 10+ year long collaboration between librarians and medical school faculty.
Methods: Third and fourth-year medical students completing a Family Medicine Clerkship completed a survey both before and after participating in the 4-week course. This survey captured their confidence in various aspects of EBM and health literacy. Demographic information, including medical specialization, was also gathered. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to assess the magnitude and significance of any change in confidence and potential moderators, and analysis of subgroups was performed.
Results: 93 participants responded to both the pre- and post-tests. The survey results showed that the course increased student confidence in both applying EBM concepts and in health literacy and patient communication. The largest gains in confidence in applying EBM concepts were seen in assigning a strength of recommendation (18.7% increase) and formulating an answerable question (17.5%). The largest gains in confidence in health literacy and patient communication were seen in defining health literacy (28.3%) and in finding appropriate consumer resources for further information (18.3%).
Evaluation: Surveys of student confidence in EBM and Health Literacy concepts, conducted both pre and post-intervention.
Methods: Third and fourth-year medical students completing a Family Medicine Clerkship completed a survey both before and after participating in the 4-week course. This survey captured their confidence in various aspects of EBM and health literacy. Demographic information, including medical specialization, was also gathered. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to assess the magnitude and significance of any change in confidence and potential moderators, and analysis of subgroups was performed.
Results: 93 participants responded to both the pre- and post-tests. The survey results showed that the course increased student confidence in both applying EBM concepts and in health literacy and patient communication. The largest gains in confidence in applying EBM concepts were seen in assigning a strength of recommendation (18.7% increase) and formulating an answerable question (17.5%). The largest gains in confidence in health literacy and patient communication were seen in defining health literacy (28.3%) and in finding appropriate consumer resources for further information (18.3%).
Evaluation: Surveys of student confidence in EBM and Health Literacy concepts, conducted both pre and post-intervention.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| State | Published - Oct 7 2018 |
| Event | Medical Library Association Midwest Chapter Annual Meeting - Cleveland, United States Duration: Oct 5 2018 → Oct 9 2018 |
Conference
| Conference | Medical Library Association Midwest Chapter Annual Meeting |
|---|---|
| Country/Territory | United States |
| City | Cleveland |
| Period | 10/5/18 → 10/9/18 |