Making generic tutorials content specific: recycling evidence-based practice (EBP) tutorials for two disciplines

Area of Science:

• Medical Librarianship
• Health Sciences Education
• Information Science

Background:

• Developing effective training for Evidence-based Medicine (EBM) and Evidence-based Dentistry (EBD) is crucial for medical and dental education.
• Interactive online tutorials can standardize baseline knowledge and facilitate tailored skill development.
• Repurposing educational content can enhance efficiency and reach across different health science disciplines.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe the development and implementation of two interactive online tutorials for Evidence-based Medicine (EBM) and Evidence-based Dentistry (EBD) at Boston University Medical Center (BUMC).
• To evaluate the utility of these tutorials in providing consistent training and informing subsequent library skills workshops.
• To assess the reception and integration of these tutorials into mandatory first-year curricula.

Main Methods:

• Construction of two interactive online tutorials: "Introduction to EBM" and "Formulating a Clinical Question (PICO)".
• Utilization of Adobe's ColdFusion for dynamic, URL-based content population.
• Employment of a MySQL database for collecting and providing immediate faculty access to student input via a secure website.
• Repurposing of initial tutorials for both a Family Medicine Clerkship and an Evidence-based Dentistry course.

Main Results:

• Tutorials successfully provided all students with the same baseline training in EBM and EBD concepts.
• Student responses allowed librarians to customize subsequent library skills workshops effectively.
• The online tutorials were positively received by both the medical and dental schools at BUMC.
• The tutorials have been incorporated into mandatory first-year EBM and EBD courses for all medical and dental students.

Conclusions:

• Interactive online tutorials are an effective tool for delivering standardized EBM and EBD education.
• The ability to repurpose content and tailor workshops enhances the efficiency and impact of library instruction.
• The successful integration into mandatory curricula highlights the value and acceptance of these digital learning resources in health professions education.