Centre for Evidence-based Health Care, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, Francie van Zijl drive, Parow 7500, Cape Town, South Africa; South African Cochrane Centre, South African Medical Research Council, Tygerberg, South Africa; Centre for Health Professions Education, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, Francie van Zijl drive, Parow 7500, Cape Town, South Africa
Rohwer, A., Centre for Evidence-based Health Care, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, Francie van Zijl drive, Parow 7500, Cape Town, South Africa; Young, T., Centre for Evidence-based Health Care, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, Francie van Zijl drive, Parow 7500, Cape Town, South Africa, South African Cochrane Centre, South African Medical Research Council, Tygerberg, South Africa; Van Schalkwyk, S., Centre for Health Professions Education, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, Francie van Zijl drive, Parow 7500, Cape Town, South Africa
Background: Teaching the steps of evidence-based medicine (EBM) to undergraduate as well as postgraduate health care professionals is crucial for implementation of effective, beneficial health care practices and abandonment of ineffective, harmful ones. Stellenbosch University in Cape Town, South Africa, offers a 12-week, completely online module on EBM within the Family Medicine division, to medical specialists in their first year of training. The aim of this study was to formatively evaluate this module; assessing both the mode of delivery; as well as the perceived effectiveness and usefulness thereof. Methods. We used mixed methods to evaluate this module: A document review to assess whether the content of the module reflects important EBM competencies; a survey of the students to determine their experiences of the module; and semi-structured interviews with the tutors to explore their perspectives of the module. Ethics approval was obtained. Results: The document review indicated that EBM competencies were covered adequately, although critical appraisal only focused on randomised controlled trials and guidelines. Students had a positive attitude towards the module, but felt that they needed more support from the tutors. Tutors felt that students engaged actively in discussions, but experienced difficulties with understanding certain concepts of EBM. Furthermore, they felt that it was challenging explaining these via the online learning platform and saw the need to incorporate more advanced technology to better connect with the students. In their view the key to successful learning of EBM was to keep it relevant and applicable to everyday practice. Tutors also felt that an online module on EBM was advantageous, since doctors from all over the world were able to participate. Conclusion: Our study has shown that the online module on EBM was effective in increasing EBM knowledge and skills of postgraduate students and was well received by both students and tutors. Students and tutors experienced generic challenges that accompany any educational intervention of EBM (e.g. understanding difficult concepts), but in addition had to deal with challenges unique to the online learning environment. Teachers of EBM should acknowledge these so as to enhance and successfully implement EBM teaching and learning for all students. © 2013 Rohwer et al.; licensee BioMed Central Ltd.
article; education; evaluation study; evidence based medicine; human; medical education; methodology; standard; teaching; education; evidence based medicine; medical education; procedures; standards; teaching; Computer-Assisted Instruction; Education, Medical, Continuing; Educational Measurement; Evidence-Based Medicine; Humans; Computer-Assisted Instruction; Education, Medical, Continuing; Educational Measurement; Evidence-Based Medicine; Humans