Use of an Audience Response System in an Evidence-Based Mini-Curriculum

ABSTRACT

Since 2002, library faculty at the Indiana University School of Medicine have taught third-year medical students how to retrieve the best evidence from MEDLINE to address their clinical questions. In preparation for their Neurology, Medicine, and Psychiatry clerkships, students attended a review of evidence-based medicine principles and techniques for searching the literature. The session was team-taught by two faculty members, one from the Internal Medicine department and the other from the Library. The librarian reviewed important MEDLINE principles for constructing a good subject search and applying appropriate evidence-based filters. During the clerkships, students were asked to generate clinical questions arising from their patient encounters, searched MEDLINE for the best evidence, critiqued the results, and then applied them back to their patients' care. Library faculty provided individualized feedback on the student searches. A follow-up session two months later reinforced MEDLINE principles, used student searches as examples, and extended the discussion to other evidence-based, point-of-care resources. To add to the interactivity of the follow-up sessions, librarians used an audience response system to measure students' understanding of literature retrieval techniques and to gauge student preferences for information seeking on clinical topics. Overall, the sessions have been well-received by the students.

KEYWORDS:

• ARS
• audience response systems
• evidence-based medicine
• medical education
• third-year medical students

Notes

∗Audience response system (ARS) data collected.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Kellie N. Kaneshiro

Kellie N. Kaneshiro, AMLS, AHIP is Coordinator, Information Services Team;

Thomas W. Emmett

Thomas W. Emmett, MD, MLS is Clinical Informationist;

Susan K. London

Susan K. London, MLS is Electronic Education Coordinator;

Rick K. Ralston

Rick K. Ralston, MSLS is Assistant Director for Library Operations;

Margaret W. Richwine

Margaret W. Richwine, MS, MLS, AHIP is Director, Outreach Services;

Elaine Noonan Skopelja

Elaine Noonan Skopelja, MALS, AHIP is Coordinator, Library Liaison Program;

Frances A. Brahmi

Frances A. Brahmi, MA, MLS, PhD, AHIP is Curriculum and Education Director;

Elizabeth Whipple

Elizabeth Whipple, MLS is Research Informationist; all at the Indiana University School of Medicine Library, 975 West Walnut Street, IB 100, Indianapolis, IN 46202–5121.