An evaluation of a collaborative model for preparing evidence-based medicine teachers

Area of Science:

• Medical Librarianship
• Health Professions Education
• Evidence-Based Medicine (EBM)

Background:

• Librarians play a crucial role in disseminating evidence-based medicine (EBM) principles.
• Effective training models are needed to equip librarians and health professionals with EBM teaching skills.
• Collaboration between librarians and medical faculty can enhance EBM instruction.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate a train-the-trainer collaboration model for teaching evidence-based medicine (EBM) principles.
• To assess the model's effectiveness in preparing librarians and health professionals to teach EBM.
• To identify areas for improvement in EBM training for health sciences librarians.

Main Methods:

• A telephone survey was conducted with graduates of an EBM train-the-trainer course.
• Respondents reported on their EBM teaching activities post-course.
• Key areas assessed included critical appraisal skills, PubMed searching proficiency, and interprofessional collaboration.

Main Results:

• The majority of respondents were librarians who successfully taught EBM upon returning to their institutions.
• Most participants initiated collaborations with health professionals to advance EBM.
• Improvements in PubMed searching skills and statistical competency were less pronounced.

Conclusions:

• The train-the-trainer model is effective for preparing librarians to teach EBM.
• Encouraging collaboration between librarians and health professionals proved successful.
• Librarians expressed a desire for enhanced statistical instruction and less focus on PubMed searching.
• Further research is needed to assess the impact on health professionals due to low response rates.