Session 1 Lecture 2: Introduction to Evidence Based Medicine

Question 1

What is meant by Evidence-Based Medicine?

Answer 1

Conscientious, explicit and judicious use of current best evidence in making decisions about the care of individual patients

Question 2

State 3 commonly used (epidemiological) study designs

Answer 2

• Observational
• Experimental
• Systematic reviews

Question 3

Main types of Observational study designs

Answer 3

• Case reports and case series
• Cross-sectional studies (the study of prevalence)
• Correlational studies/Ecological
• Case-control and cohort studies (identify links between possible causative agents and disease)

Doesn’t suggest or define beyond causation

Question 4

Examples of Experimental study designs

Answer 4

-Interventional studies which include controlled trials and randomised controlled trials(reducing bias)

Question 5

Features of Systematic reviews

Answer 5

• combines study results together from randomised controlled trials, observational studies and qualitative studies
• exhaust all sources and its without bias
• gathers evidence systematically

Question 6

What is the Hierarchy of evidence from study designs from the top to the bottom?

Answer 6

1. Systematic reviews of randomised trials
2. Randomised controlled trials
3. Controlled trials
4. Observational studies
5. Case series and Case study
6. Consensus/Expert views

Question 7

How do you do a good literature search effectively?

Answer 7

PICOS

• Population or patient group
• Interventions or investigation considered
• Comparator (control)
• Outcomes considered -may not need this
• Study design -may not need this