Abstract
Background
Evidence-based health information (EBHI) is a prerequisite for informed and shared decision-making. The criteria for EBHI have been described comprehensively but the implementation in practice is still insufficient. The guideline evidence-based health information addresses providers of health information. Its goal is to improve the quality of health information. The evidence-based guideline emerged from the German Network for Evidence-based Medicine (DNEbM) and was published in February 2017. In addition, the competences of providers of health information were explored and a training programme was developed.
Aim of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of an intervention comprising the guideline evidence-based health information and a training programme addressing providers of health information in a randomised controlled trial. We expect the intervention to improve the quality of health information in comparison to provision of the guideline only.
Methods
The trial uses a superiority randomised control group design with ten months follow-up. 26 providers of health information (groups with up to ten members) will be enrolled to compare the intervention (guideline & training programme) with usual care (guideline publicly available). The 5-day training programme comprises an evidence-based medicine training module and a module to prepare the application of the guideline. The primary outcome measure is the quality of the health information. Quality is operationalised as the extent of adherence to the guideline’s recommendations. Each provider will prepare a single health information informing a health-related decision. The quality of this information will be rated using the MAPPIN Health Information Quality instrument. An accompanying process evaluation will then be conducted.
Discussion
The study results will show whether the efficacy of the intervention justifies implementation of the training programme to enhance health information developers’ competences in evidence-based medicine and to ensure high quality EBHI in the long-term.
Trial registration ISRCTN registry, registration number: ISRCTN96941060, Date: 7 March 2019, URL: http://www.isrctn.com/ISRCTN96941060 Keywords
health information; guideline implementation, training programme; evidence-based medicine; guideline evidence-based health information
A randomised-controlled trial of two educational modes for undergraduate evidence-based medicine learning in Asia
