EBM user and practitioner models for graduate medical education: what do residents prefer?

Abstract

The objective of the study reported in this article was to assess and explain medical residents’ preferences for the evidence based medicine (EBM) practitioner versus the EBM user models. A self-administered survey and focus group of residents attending a core curriculum EBM master session were undertaken. Most residents, particularly those earlier in their training, preferred the practitioner model. Residents perceived that model as an opportunity to gain advanced EBM skills during residency, as providing the ability to choose practicing under both models, and as offering the gain of independent thinking and greater self-confidence in their critical appraisal skills. The user model had the advantage of reduced time requirements. In sum, the majority of residents preferred a curriculum that focuses on the practitioner over the user model.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Elie A. Akl

ELIE AKL finished his medical school in Lebanon and is now completing his residency in Internal Medicine and Social and Preventive Medicine at the University at Buffalo, USA. He has been working for four years in research with Holger Schünemann. He is interested in educational research and in evidence-based clinical practice.

Nancy Maroun

NANCY MAROUN is a community social worker. She completed her master's degree in social work in Lebanon and is now pursuing a doctoral degree in sociology at the University at Buffalo, USA. She is interested in community research, post-conflict development, internally displaced people and qualitative research methodologies.

Gabriela Neagoe

GABRIELA NEAGOE completed her medical school training in Bucharest, Romania and is currently a resident in Social and Preventive Medicine at the State University of New York at Buffalo. She is interested in clinical preventive medicine, healthcare administration and graduate medical education research.

Gordon Guyatt

GORDON GUYATT is a widely known clinical epidemiologist. He coined the term Evidence Based Medicine and is Professor of Medicine and Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics at McMaster University.

Holger J. Schünemann

HOLGER J. SCHÜNEMANN is a clinical epidemiologist educated at Hanover Medical School, Germany, and the University at Buffalo, USA. He is an Associate Professor of Medicine at the University at Buffalo and Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics at McMaster University and currently works at the Italian National Cancer Institute, Regina Elena.