Teaching evidence-based medicine in a Saudi medical school: a pilot study

ABSTRACT

The teaching of Evidence Based Medicine [EBM] has been increasingly integrated into curricula at both undergraduate and postgraduate medical education. The aims of this paper were to i] describe King Saud University [KSU] experience of teaching EBM for medical students ii] explore students' satisfaction with the module, their practice of what was learned and obstacles faced. Six months after completing the module, a self-administered questionnaire was distributed to 43 female students. The majority [> 90%] of the students found the EBM module helpful in their clinical practice and favored it's inclusion in the FM rotation. About 38% of students found difficulty in searching the literatures for information and only 45% practiced EBM in other clinical rotations. The majority of the students [78%] found that the six weeks' duration was enough for the module. About 77.5% of the students thought that EBM was important for their career. It is reassuring to find the students satisfied with the EBM module. In view of the students' difficulty in literature searching and lack of practice in other clinical rotations which are going in common with others recommendations; it is suggested that EBM teaching to take place earlier in the medical school curriculum and to involve different specialties in it's teaching