HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS REGISTER		Author Keyword(s) Vol Page [Advanced]

This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Submit a response Alert me when this article is cited Alert me when eLetters are posted Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this link to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Add article to my folders Download to citation manager Request Permissions Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Novack, L Articles by Novack, V Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Novack, L Articles by Novack, V

Evidence-based medicine: assessment of knowledge of basic epidemiological and research methods among medical doctors

¹ Department of Epidemiology and Health Services Evaluation, Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben-Gurion University in the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel
² Division of Internal Medicine, University Medical Center Soroka, Beer-Sheva, Israel

Correspondence to:
Correspondence to:
V Novack
Division of Internal Medicine, University Medical Center Soroka, Beer-Sheva, Israel; novack{at}bgu.ac.il

Background: An understanding of statistical methods and basic epidemiology are crucial for the practice of modern medicine.

Aims: To assess (1) the knowledge of basic methods of conducting research and data analysis among residents and practicing doctors and (2) the effect of country of medical school graduation, professional status, medical article reading and writing experience on the level of this knowledge.

Methods: Data were collected by means of a supervised self-administered questionnaire, which was distributed among doctors at Soroka Medical Center, Beer-Sheva, Israel. The questionnaire included 10 multiple-choice questions on basic epidemiology and statistics, and respondent demographical data.

Results: Of the 260 eligible doctors, 219 (84.2%) returned completed questionnaires. Of the 219 doctors, 50% graduated more than 8.5 years ago, 39.7% were specialists and the remaining were residents. The most frequent specialty was internal medicine (37.4%). Israel was the most frequent country of graduation (45.7%), followed by the former Soviet Union (Eastern medical education; 38.4%). The median total score of knowledge was 4 of 10 questions (interquartile range 2–6). A higher score was associated with a Western medical education, being a specialist, shorter elapsed time since graduation, higher number of publications and self-reported reading of "methods" and "discussion" sections in scientific articles.

Conclusion: This study found a low level of knowledge of basic principles of research methods and data analysis among doctors, and this knowledge considerably differed by country of medical school graduation.

Abbreviations: EBM, evidence-based medicine; IQR, interquartile range

Keywords: evidence-based medicine; epidemiological methods; statistics; doctor; knowledge

This article has been cited by other articles:

				G. Hughes Hygieia J Epidemiol Community Health, April 1, 2007; 61(4): 368 - 368. [Full Text] [PDF]