MedEdPORTAL (Jul 2013)
The Making Evidence-Based Medicine Simple Series — Meta-analysis Module
Abstract
Abstract Introduction The Making Evidence Based Medicine Simple Series is an evidence-based clinical practice curriculum. It consists of six modules that review the article types addressing the most common clinical questions (i.e., diagnosis, therapy, harm, prognosis, meta-analysis, and clinical decision rules). Each module reviews an article from the medical literature using the User's Guide to Medical Literature criteria for validity, results, and applicability. Each module includes a PowerPoint presentation with a script, a video of the presentation with narration, a quiz with answers, tips for teaching the module, a blank review form, and a completed critical article review for the article reviewed in the module. Methods The Meta-Analysis Module reviews the appraisal of the validity, results, and applicability of a meta-analysis of nine randomized clinical trials including over 2000 patients. The study addresses the following clinical question: In children with acute otitis media, will a short course of antibiotics when compared to a long course of antibiotics, result in a greater risk of treatment failure? In addition, this module reviews the following critical appraisal skills: (1) differentiating between a systematic review, meta-analysis, and practice guideline, (2) understanding the use of study quality scores, (3) interpreting kappa statistics as a measure of reproducibility, (4) interpreting a Forest plot and heterogeneity statistics, and (5) identifying the goal of a sensitivity analysis and calculate a number needed to treat/harm from an odds ratio. Results Evaluations by course participants have been extremely positive. Participants often comment that they have finally grasped important content that they have previously struggled with. The materials have been particularly useful to those who are leading a teaching session. Feedback from a 2013 course for pediatric emergency medicine fellows indicated that 100% of participants felt the Meta-Analysis Module was “extremely helpful.” In addition, 100% of participants agreed or strongly agreed that the modules improved their ability to appraise an article, and their ability to conduct evidence-based clinical practice. One-hundred percent also agreed or strongly agreed that the precourse materials were useful. Discussion The Making Evidence Based Medicine Simple Series is a well-received evidence based clinical practice curriculum and the Meta-Analysis Module is an effective component of the series that can be used independently or with the other modules.
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