title: Effectiveness of training in evidence-based medicine skills for healthcare professionals: a systematic review.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Basic skills in evidence-based medicine (EbM) are indispensable for healthcare professionals to promote consumer-centred, evidence-based treatment. EbM training courses are complex interventions - a fact that has not been methodologically reflected by previous systematic reviews. This review evaluates the effects of EbM training for healthcare professionals as well as the quality of reporting of such training interventions.
  
  
  METHODS
  We searched PubMed, EMBASE, CINAHL, Cochrane Library, ERIC, Campbell Library and PsycINFO up to 9/2014. Randomised controlled trials, controlled clinical trials as well as before-after trials were included. Authors were contacted in order to obtain missing data. Two independent reviewers extracted data and assessed risk of bias.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We reviewed 14.507 articles; n = 61 appeared potentially eligible; n = 13 involving 1,120 participants were included. EbM training shows some impact on knowledge and skills, whereas the impact on practical EbM application remains unclear. Risk of bias of included trials raises uncertainty about the effects. Description of complex interventions was poor.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  EbM training has some positive effects on knowledge and skills of healthcare professionals. Appropriate methods for development, piloting, evaluation, reporting and implementation of the training should be applied.
authors.affiliation: University of Witten/Herdecke, Faculty of Health, School of Nursing Science, Witten/Herdeke, Germany. hecht@red-institut.de.|RED Institute for Medical Research and Education, Mühlenkamp 5, 23758, Oldenburg, Germany. hecht@red-institut.de.
authors.forename: Lars
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Hecht
authors.affiliation: University of Hamburg, Faculty of Mathematics, Informatics and Natural Sciences, Unit of Health Sciences and Education, Hamburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Susanne
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Buhse
authors.affiliation: Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Medical Faculty, Institute for Health and Nursing Science, Halle, Germany.
authors.forename: Gabriele
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Meyer
mesh_terms: D002983:Clinical Competence; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine / Q000193:education*; D006801:Humans
keywords: Complex intervention; Education; Evidence-Based Medicine; Evidence-Based Nursing; Health Personnel