scholarly journals 777Teaching evidence-based medicine using authentic assessment the Whack-a-mole project

2021 ◽  
Vol 50 (Supplement_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Basia Diug ◽  
Bethany Howard ◽  
Kenneth Harvey

Abstract Introduction Authentic assessments facilitate student’s application of complex problem-solving skills and knowledge to real-world tasks. The whack-a-mole (WAM) project includes key critical thinking, biostatistics and epidemiology skills as well as elements of complexity and creativity skills that are particularly important when teaching evidence-based medicine to health professionals. Complementary and alternative medicines (CAMs) provide the current context as they are widely used in the Australian population making them an important subject amongst primary health care professional and policy makers. Aim To report student perceptions and learning after completion of the real-world authentic assessment WAM. Methods WAM required students to choose, document, investigate, identify, critically appraise and report on a complementary medication for sale in Australia. A total 464 students enrolled in a 3rd Biomedical Science capstone unit completed the WAM project report and video assessments in teams. Data on student perceptions was collected using an online questionnaire and analysed using SPSS 25 and NVIVO 11. Results The average overall mark for the WAM assessment was 52/60 (86%). 116 students (25%) completed the online questionnaire of which 92% of students indicated the whack-a-mole project changed their perceptions of complementary medicine and/or the regulation of goods and services in Australia. The majority of students found no (43%) or insufficient (55%) evidence to support product claims. These findings were supported by qualitative feedback. Conclusion Students applied the principles of EBM to the WAM project and in doing so altered their perceptions of CAM, regulation and scientific evidence. Key messages Authentic assessments play a key role in engaging student in real-world problem solving to advance their critical thinking and evidence-based medicine.

2016 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Shannon Reidt ◽  
Keri Hager ◽  
James Beattie ◽  
Amy Pittenger ◽  
Maureen Smith ◽  
...  

This case study describes a longitudinal curricular sequence implemented to teach evidence-based medicine (EBM) skills. The longitudinal sequence is innovative in its approach, design, and assessment of EBM. This approach moves away from the conventional strategy of teaching drug information and drug literature evaluation as stand-alone courses and instead embraces the EBM Framework and its use in the context of authentic problem solving. The EBM Framework—Ask, Acquire, Appraise, and Apply—was used as the basis for defining seven EBM skills. These skills were targeted in the evidence-based, integrated design of 17 learning episodes delivered with eight faculty members through six courses in the first year. Student perceptions of relevance of EBM and performance on assessments and learning activities throughout the sequence suggest that integrating EBM across the first year of the curriculum is an effective strategy for teaching EBM skills. Three themes emerged from analysis of the data and experience, including the need for: a strong teaching team, a whole task approach with a focus on solving authentic problems, and care in interpreting the progression of assessments and patterns of student performance. Through instructor observations and peer review, the longitudinal sequence has been refined and has had an impact on the rest of the curriculum.   Type: Case Study


Author(s):  
Ping Li ◽  
Lin Wu

This paper reports the results of an online survey that explores medical librarians’ roles and activities in supporting EBM practice. More than 500 medical librarians replied to the survey. Data analysis reveals that librarians have been taking on various EBM-related responsibilities both routine by nature and project-related.Cet article présente les résultats d’un sondage en ligne portant sur les rôles et les activités des bibliothécaires du domaine des sciences de la santé pour soutenir les pratiques de médecine fondée sur les preuves (MFP). Plus de 500 bibliothécaires ont répondu au sondage. L’analyse des données révèlent que ces bibliothécaires ont participé à des activités routinières et à des projets relevant du domaine de la MFP. 


1999 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
pp. 133-138 ◽  
Author(s):  
William A. Ghali ◽  
Richard Saitz ◽  
Peter M. Sargious ◽  
Warren Y. Hershman ◽  

2021 ◽  
pp. bmjebm-2020-111397
Author(s):  
Gabriela Andrade Araujo ◽  
Luis Claudio Lemos Correia ◽  
Julia Rodrigues Siqueira ◽  
Leandro Calazans Nogueira ◽  
Ney Meziat-Filho ◽  
...  

ObjectivesHealthcare professionals need to take into account their knowledge, skills and attitudes to develop a focused clinical question, perform an effective search of the literature, critically appraise the evidence, and apply to the clinical context and evaluate the effectiveness of the process. To date, there is a lack of consensus on evidence-based medicine (EBM) curriculum for undergraduate healthcare students in Brazil. The aim of this study was to develop a consensus on EBM curriculum contents for healthcare schools in Brazil considering expert opinion.DesignModified three-round Delphi methodology.SettingOnline survey.ParticipantsThe expert panel was composed of 40 healthcare professionals from different specialties. Most of the participants (n=24; 60%) were female with the age between 30 and 44 years. Participants were also experts in the field of epidemiology, biostatistics or public health. The mean experience of experts in teaching EBM was 9.5 years.Main outcome measuresAn online questionnaire consisting of 89 items related to EBM was sent to the experts. The experts ranked each item of EBM curriculum considering the importance of each item as omitted, mentioned, explained or practised. The last section of the questionnaire was composed of ‘additional content’ where the experts evaluated only if an item should be included or not, the form of offering the EBM contents and the total workload (in hours/semester). Open-ended questions were present in each section to give the opportunity to experts to insert suggestions. Items that reached values greater than or equal to 70% of agreement among experts was considered definitive for the curriculum. Items between 51% and 69% of agreement were included for the next round and those items with less than or equal to 50% of agreement were considered unnecessary and were excluded. In the third round, the EBM contents were classified according to the degree of consensus as follow: strong (≥70% of agreement), moderate (51%–69% of agreement) and weak (50% of agreement) based on the maximum consensus reached.ResultsOf the 89 initial contents, 32 (35.9%) reached a strong degree of consensus, 23 (25.8%) moderate degree of consensus, two (2.2%) weak degree of consensus and 35 items were not recommended (≤50% of agreement). The workload suggested by experts should be between 61 and 90 hour/semester and an EBM curriculum should be offered with epidemiology and biostatistics as prerequisites. Regarding the importance of each item, 29 (72.5%) should be explained and 25 (27.5%) should be practised with exercises.ConclusionsThe consensus on an EBM curriculum for Brazilian healthcare schools consists of 54 items. This EBM curriculum also presents the degree of consensus (strong, moderate and weak), the importance of each item (mentioned, explained and practised with exercises). A total workload of between 60 and 90 hours per semester was suggested and the EBM curriculum should be offered with epidemiology and biostatistics as prerequisites, but also EBM contents should be included within other disciplines throughout the entire undergraduate course.


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