[Adapting the "Curriculum of Evidence-based Medicine" to different target groups. Experiences with postgraduate studies in public health (Hanover) and medical education (Luebeck)].
In 2002 the German "Curriculum Evidence-based Medicine" was made available by the Agency for Quality in Medicine and the German Network for Evidence-based Medicine. Its primary aim was to train practising medical doctors. We adapted the curriculum for participants of a postgraduate Master of Public Health course and a course for medical students. The two groups differ from the main target group regarding both their baseline knowledge and the objectives of their respective training courses. Here we report how the curriculum was adapted. The curriculum was adjusted in several ways: The postgraduate course focused on case studies with public health relevance. Beyond the obligatory modules, the focus was on training skills in searching and assessing secondary and tertiary evidence like systematic reviews or health technology assessments. In addition, the health policy context for evidence based medicine in Germany was analysed. In the course that aimed at medical students we included the module "Critical Appraisal of a Survey". At the beginning of each case study, the frequency and relevance of the health problems were elaborated. Apart from case studies on therapeutic interventions we also presented studies on diagnosis, prognosis and screening to demonstrate that evidence-based clinical decision making is feasible for the whole spectrum of questions arising from patient care. The curriculum proved to be adaptive to the needs of heterogeneous groups of participants. In this article we provide a detailed list of practical recommendations for courses for students of Public Health and Medicine.
Gerhardus
Ansgar
A
Abteilung für Epidemiologie, Sozialmedizin und Gesundheitssystemforschung, Medizinische Hochschule Hannover. gerhardus.ansgar@mh-hannover.de
Muth
Christiane
C
Lühmann
Dagmar
D
D003479:Curriculum; D004503:Education, Medical, Graduate; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine / Q000193:education*; D005858:Germany; D006801:Humans; D011634:Public Health / Q000193:education*