Self-perceived competencies on evidence-based medicine in medical students and physicians registered in a virtual course: a cross-sectional study
Author(s)
Milton A. Romero-Robles
David R. Soriano‐Moreno
Fabrizio M. García-Gutiérrez
I. Benjamín Condori-Meza
Caroline C. Sing-Sánchez
Sandy P. Bulnes Alvarez
Christoper A. Alarcón-Ruiz
Álvaro Taype-Rondán
Andrés Viteri-García
Date Issued
17 de diciembre de 2021
Type
Article
Volume
27
Issue
1
Start Page
2010298
End Page
2010298
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Evidence-based medicine (EBM) is defined as the integration of the best available evidence from scientific studies with clinical experience (and context) and with patients' values and preferences. The objective of the present study was to describe self-perceived EBM competencies in physicians and medical students enrolled in a massive virtual EBM course. METHODS: Analytical cross-sectional study. People interested in a free virtual EBM course fulfilled their data in a virtual form for their registration in September 2020. In this form, 22 competencies related to four dimensions of EBM were evaluated: asking a clinical question, search, analysis, and application; using a 5-option Likert scale. The resulting database was analyzed, selecting people who claimed to be physicians or medical students of 18 years or more. RESULTS: 1793 participants were included: 1130 medical students and 663 physicians; more than 80% lived in Peru. The frequency of participants who agreed or strongly agreed with feeling qualified in each competence ranged: from 39.2% to 57.8% for the competencies of the 'Asking a clinical question' dimension, from 39.2% to 56.1% for 'Search,' from 19.9% to 32.0% for 'Analysis,' and from 19.6% to 29.9% for 'Application.' Both in physicians and students, the lowest frequencies were for the competencies of interpretation of impact measures, graphs, and results of systematic reviews; as well as shared decision making and calculation of expected benefit. Physicians who graduated more recently scored better on competencies from search and analysis dimensions. CONCLUSION: EBM: Evidence-based medicine; CIMBE, for its acronym in Spanish: International Course on Evidence-Based Medicine; SOCIMEP, for its acronym in Spanish: Peruvian Medical Student Scientific Society.
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