Course Description

Introduction

Evidence-Based Medicine provides tools that enable physicians and other healthcare providers to navigate complex clinical scenarios and deliver patient-centric care.  This approach requires providers to be familiar with biomedical study designs, statistical tools, and frameworks for translating research into practice.  It also encourages providers to be continuously alert for “clinical questions” that can be addressed using existing knowledge and for “knowledge gaps” that should be addressed through research.  

Educational Objectives

This workshop will enable participants to

• Discuss the “hierarchy of evidence” in biomedical research and the applications of specific observational and experimental study types in medicine and public health.
• Identify the strengths and weaknesses of study designs commonly encountered in medicine and public health practice.
• Interpret results from statistical tests and analyses commonly observed in observational and experimental studies.
• Apply PICO, Spider, and other frameworks to develop a clinical or research question.
• Conduct a literature search to answer a clinically oriented question or to support a research proposal that addresses a knowledge gap.

Workshop Schedule

Session 1 – The “Hierarchy of Evidence” and Its Application

• Observational studies

• Case reports and case studies
• Ecologic studies
• Case-control studies
• Cross-sectional studies
• Cohort studies

• Quasi-experimental studies
• Experimental studies

           Session 2 – Statistical Analyses in Medical Research

• Principles of sampling

• Statistics versus parameters
• Standard error versus standard deviation
• Effect of sample size

• Descriptive statistics

• Types of data
• Strategies for describing the composition of a dataset

• Calculating point estimates

• Measures of prevalence
• Measures of incidence
• Evaluating statistical significance

• Evaluating differences in central tendency

• Evaluating normal distribution of continuous data
• Tests for evaluating differences in means (t-Tests, ANOVA, etc.)
• Techniques for analyzing non-parametric continuous data

• Regression analysis and modeling
  • Assumptions underlying regression modeling

• Simple and multivariable linear regression
• Logistic regression
• Specialized applications (Cox proportional hazards modeling, survival analysis)

Session 3 – Developing a clinical or research question

• Types of questions

• Background versus foreground questions

• Where do questions come from?
  • Anticipating common knowledge transfer opportunities in your practice

• Examining your practice for “unknowns”
• Addressing knowledge gaps that might be addressed with research

• Frameworks for developing research questions
• Alternative frameworks for evaluating clinical or programmatic questions

Session 4 – Appraising the Literature

• Types of Literature

• Primary Sources
• Secondary or Filtered Sources
• Point-of-Care Tools
• Clinical Practice Guidelines

• Locating evidence to address questions

• Web-based sites and tools

• Working with systematic reviews and meta analyses
  • Evaluating biases in systematic reviews and meta analyses
  • Interpreting point estimates from meta-analyses

            Session 5 – Applying Evidence-Based Medicine in Practice

• Principles of translational research
• Incorporating evidence in your practice
  • Integrating your knowledge and patient preferences with evidence
  • Developing clinical protocols and “talking points”
• Evaluating the impact of evidence-based practices
  • Pursuing research questions in your respective practice
  • Developing programs and evaluating them
• Teaching and “championing” evidence-based medicine in your institution

• Involving residents, fellows, and graduate students in the evidence-based medicine process
• Leading change and implementing programs in your practice

• Target Audience:  Healthcare Providers (MD/DO, DMD/DDS, Nurses, Physical Therapists, Physician’s Assistants, Behavioral Health Professionals); Public Health Professionals; Scientists Supporting Clinical Research Projects; Post-Bacs Considering Training in Health Professions
• Pre-Requisites:  None

• Knowledge of epidemiology and biostatistics is helpful

Credit

Although no grades are given for workshops, each participant will receive Continuing Education Units (CEUs) based on the number of contact hours.   One CEU is equal to ten contact hours. Upon completion, each participant will receive a certificate, showing completion of the workshop and 1.0 CEUs.

Refund Policy

100% tuition refund for registrations cancelled 14 or more days prior to the start of the workshop.

50% tuition refund for registrations cancelled between 4 to 13 days prior to the start of the workshop.

No refund will be issued for registrations cancelled 3 days or less prior to the start of the workshop.

Notification

All cancellations must be received in writing via email to Ms. Carline Coote at registrar@faes.org.

Cancellations received after 4:00 pm (ET) on business days or received on non-business days are time marked for the following business day.

All refund payments will be processed by the start of the initial workshop.