Table 1 Overview of the EBM course content

1. Introduction to EBM

• Rationale for EBM in medicine

• How to construct a clinical question

2. Searching the medical literature

• Overview of relevant medical and healthcare databases

• How to construct a search strategy

3. Biostatistics

• Overview of biostatistical concepts including;

  ▪ Categorical versus numerical data

  ▪ Use of appropriate statistical analysis

4. Critical appraisal of studies of therapy (part 1)

• Introduction to RCTs

• Measures of effect (relative risk, number needed to treat, absolute risk)

• P-values and confidence intervals

• Critical appraisal techniques for studies of therapy

5. Critical appraisal of studies of therapy (part 2)

• Continuation of session 4.

6. Critical appraisal of studies of harm (part 1)

• Introduction to cohort studies

• Measures of effect (Odds ratios and number needed to harm)

• Critical appraisal techniques for studies of harm (specific to cohort studies)

7. Critical appraisal of studies of harm (part 2)

• Introduction to case–control studies

• Measures of effect (Odds ratios and number needed to harm)

• Critical appraisal techniques for studies of harm (specific to case–control studies)

8. Critical appraisal of studies of diagnosis

• Overview of concepts specific to diagnosis including;

  ▪ Sensitivity and specificity

  ▪ Positive and negative predictive values

  ▪ Positive and negative likelihood ratios

• Critical appraisal techniques for studies of diagnosis

9. Critical appraisal of studies of prognosis

• Overview of concepts specific to prognosis including;

  ▪ Longitudinal study designs (including time series)

  ▪ Use of survival curves and hazard ratios

• Critical appraisal techniques for studies of prognosis

10. Critical appraisal of systematic reviews

• Introduction to how systematic reviews are constructed

• Overview of how to interpret meta-analysis including;

  ▪ Forest plots

  ▪ Sensitivity analysis

  ▪ Significance of heterogeneity

• Critical appraisal techniques for systematic reviews