Epidemiology - Practising Evidence Based Medicine

Question 1

What is evidence based medicine

Answer 1

The integration of the best research evidence with clinical expertise and patient values

Question 2

What are the four steps of evidence based medicine

Answer 2

Formulate and answerable question
Track down the best evidence
Critically appraise the evidence
Apply the evidence

Question 3

What is the PICO format for EMB

Answer 3

Population/patients
Intervention
Comparison/control
Outcome [including time if relevant]

Question 4

What must the appraisal of any study consider

Answer 4

The internal validity of the study
The results [clinically important how are they expressed]
Applicability - apply to our contex

Question 5

What is internal and external validity

Answer 5

Internal - Are the results of the study correct for the people in the sample
External - does the sample fairly represent the kind of patients in my practice

Question 6

What are threats for internal validity

Answer 6

Alternative explanations
Causal
Bias [systematic error]
Confounding
Chance [random error]

Question 7

What are the three criteria for a confounder

Answer 7

Associated with exposure
Associated with disease [risk factor]
Not part of the casual chain from exposure to disease