Course Description
Come to McMaster University
Come to McMaster, the birthplace of evidence-based health-care, to join in one of two closely related workshops. The first "Improve Practice Stream" caters to clinicians who wish to improve their clinical practice through enhanced skills in reading, interpreting, and applying the medical literature. The second "How to Teach Stream" is designed for clinician educators interested in enhancing their skills for teaching the principles of evidence-based practice to others. Both workshops are tailored to faculty and community internists, hospitalists, and senior and incoming chief residents.
The workshop accepts clinicians from a wide variety of backgrounds; there are typically attendees in each group from internal medicine, pediatrics, emergency medicine, surgery, family medicine, gastroenterology. This international workshop caters to all those interested in evidence-based practice and in medical education, and may be of particular interest to clinicians working in academic environments, program directors, chief residents, hospitalists, and educators with a focus on continuous quality improvement/quality assurance.
The workshop is aimed at clinicians, physicians, nurses, pharmacists, occupational and physiotherapists, dentists, naturopaths, chiropractors and other health-care professionals. The workshop uses small-group formats for participants to advance and practice their skills in using the medical literature and, for the teaching stream, to advance and practice their skills in teaching evidence-based practice to others.
Evidence-based clinical practice
Evidence-based clinical practice (EBCP) is an approach to health-care practice that explicitly acknowledges the evidence that bears on each patient management decision, the strength of that evidence, the benefits and risk of alternative management strategies, and the role of patients' values and preferences in trading off those benefits and risks.
This international workshop caters to all those interested in medical education, and may be of particular interest to program directors, chief residents, hospitalists, and educators with a focus on continuous quality improvement/quality assurance.
Workshop Special Events
- Opening dinner (Monday June 8)
- Social Networking Gathering (Thursday June 11)
What is Evidence-Based Clinical Practice / Evidence-Based Medicine?
Evidence-based clinical practice (EBCP) is an approach to health-care practice that explicitly acknowledges the evidence that bears on each patient management decision, the strength of that evidence, the benefits and risk of alternative management strategies, and the role of patients' values and preferences in trading off those benefits and risks.
Evidence-Based Practice is a five-step process:
- Construct a relevant, answerable question from a clinical case.
- Plan and carry out a search of the literature for the best external evidence.
- Critically appraise the literature for validity and applicability.
- Apply the evidence to your clinical practice.
- Evaluate your performance
See also: Evidence-Based Medicine: What it is and what it isn't
Why Are Evidence and Values or Preferences Important?
Clinicians are confronted daily with questions about the interpretation of diagnostic tests, the harm associated with exposure to an agent, the prognosis of a disease in a specific patient, the effectiveness of a preventive or therapeutic intervention, and the relative costs and benefits associated with these decisions. Both clinicians and policy makers need to know whether the conclusions of a primary study or a systematic review are valid, and whether recommendations in clinical practice guidelines are sound.
Members of the Department of Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics at McMaster University, in collaboration with other colleagues trained in both medicine and in clinical epidemiology, have developed a set of common sense strategies to assist in the critical appraisal of evidence. They have also developed approaches to explicitly considering values and preferences in clinical decision-making, thereby encouraging the practice of EBCP.
Evidence-based Medicine at McMaster University
"In 1992 [sic], medical researchers at McMaster University in Ontario, Canada first defined evidence-based medicine (EBM) in the biomedical literature. The concept was based on advances in clinical research - clinical trials, clinical epidemiology, and meta-analysis - in which the limits of individual expertise were recognized."
David A. Bradt,MD,MPH, FACEM,FAFPHM,FAAEM,DTM&H
In 2007, the British Medical Journal hailed the development of evidence-based medicine by researchers at McMaster University as one of the 15 greatest medical breakthroughs of the last 166 years... Experts at Johns Hopkins University, the University of Calgary and the University of California argued in support of evidence-based medicine as the top milestone. They said without this advance from McMaster University the health of many would have suffered.
What To Expect - Pre-Course
Basic Evidence-Based Medicine (EBM) Concepts
Additional Cost: $400 Cdn + 13% Harmonized Sales Tax
Session Summary:
The purpose of this half-day Pre-Course is to provide exposure to core concepts required to incorporate best evidence into practice and teaching prior to the 4-day EBM workshop. The Pre-Course (Basic EBM Concepts) is intended for early learners who have limited experience with the critical appraisal process. The 4 hours will be structured in parts that mirror the evidence cycle:
- constructing a structured clinical question;
- assessing risk of bias;
- understanding results; and
- application.
Pre-Course Faculty
- Pre-Course Co-Directors: Sheri Keitz and Gordon Guyatt
- The Pre-Course topics will be taught by a combination of experienced tutors for the main 4-day EBCP Workshop
Learning Objectives
Following the Pre-Course, participants will be able to:
- Form a clinical question using a structured PICO framework
- Describe concepts used to assess risk of bias in study design
- Randomized Trials: why do we randomize?
- Cohort Studies: Adjusted analysis
- Demonstrate understanding of reporting of results
- Calculate and interpret measures of association: risk ratio, odds ratio, risk difference, number needed to treat/harm
- Demonstrate understanding of p-values and confidence intervals
- Describe results of a systematic review when summarized in a Forest Plot
- Demonstrate understanding of key principles in applying evidence
- Describe when is it okay to generalize findings (or when it is not)
Who should attend?
- Participants in the Improve Practice Stream with minimal or no prior exposure to basic concepts in evidence-based practice
- Participants in the How to Teaching Stream may wish to attend to see new techniques in interactive large group teaching and teaching tips for key concepts that are covered.
Teaching Method
- The Pre-Course will be in a large group setting
- Presenters will utilize interactive and active participant learning techniques
Pre-Course Registration Information
- Pre-Course Registration must occur at the same time as registration for the EBM course
- Additional cost associated with attending the Pre-Course is $400 + 13% HST
What To Expect - Post-Course
Developing an Evidence-Based Health Care (EBHC) Curriculum
Additional Cost: $300 Cdn + 13% Harmonized Sales Tax
Session Summary:
The purpose of this three-hour Post-Course is to provide exposure to core concepts and steps in EBHC curriculum development and very practical approaches to curriculum implementation. The 3 hours will be structured in 2 parts.
- EBHC curriculum development process
- EBHC curriculum implementation process
Post-Course Faculty
- Post-Course Director: Alexandra Halalau
- The Post-Course sessions will be taught / moderated by a combination of experienced tutors for the main 4-day EBCP Workshop.
Learning Objectives
Following the Post-Course, participants will be able to:
- Define the framework for curriculum development
- Apply the steps for curriculum development and implementation
- Identify and address barriers to curriculum development and implementation
- Identify online curricular resources
- Identify scholarly activity opportunities through curriculum development
Who should attend?
- Participants in the Improve Practice Stream that completed the 4-day EBCP Workshop who are interested in or charged with developing an EBHC curriculum at their home institution.
- Participants in the Teaching Stream that completed the 4-day EBCP Workshop who are interested in or charged with developing an EBHC curriculum at their home institution.
Teaching Method
- The Post-Course will be in a large and small group settings.
- Presenters will utilize interactive, collaborative and active participation learning techniques
Post-Course Registration Information
- Post-course registration must occur at the same time as registration for the EBCP Workshop.
- Additional cost associated with attending the post-course is $300 + 13% HST.
What To Expect
EBCP Workshop How to Teach and Improve Practice Streams
$200 discount if registered before Dec. 31, 2019 | |
| Registration Fees (2020) | Cdn $* |
| One member from an institution | $2800 PLUS 13% Harmonized Sales Tax |
| Two members from an institution | $2500 each PLUS 13% Harmonized Sales Tax |
| Three or more members from an institution | $2200 each PLUS 13% Harmonized Sales Tax |
| Optional Pre-Course (Basic EBM Concepts) 4 hours | $400 each PLUS 13% Harmonized Sales Tax |
| Optional Post-Course (Developing an EBHC Curriculum) 3 hours | $300 each PLUS 13% Harmonized Sales Tax |
| *PLUS 13% Harmonized Sales Tax (HST # R119-035-988). Tuition includes all workshop materials, photocopying services, access to computer literature searching and dinner on the first and last evenings. | |
To obtain the discount for multiple members from the same institution, all persons must register at the same time and be referenced in each registration.
Download our Brochure and distribute it to you colleagues to encourage them to register!
The Workshop Format
The workshop is offered as a four-day intensive course. The workshop uses small-group formats for participants to acquire new EBP skills and to practice those skills. The interactive small groups let by clinical epidemiologists and practitioners primarily from North America, but also from other parts of the world. The workshop will also include some large group sessions and individual study time.
The course also offers:
1) an OPTIONAL additional 4-hour Pre-Course - Basic EBM Concepts for individuals wishing for an overview or refresher.
The Pre-Course is an additional fee to the main workshop registration.
2) an OPTIONAL additional 3-hour Post-Course - Developing an EBHC Curriculum for individuals wishing to implement an EBHC Curriculum at their own institution
The Post-course is an additional fee to the main workshop registration.
Prior to and at the workshop, participants will have access on-line to educational materials that include literature on-line to educational materials that include literature on critical appraisal and EBCP, the small group learning format, a set of clinical problems, JAMAevidence, and a variety of other EBCP aids.
Faculty
Directors: Sheri Keitz and Gordon Guyatt
The courses are taught by outstanding educators with long experience in guiding clinicians in advancing their knowledge and skills in EBM. Each small group will have two tutors, a Tutor Trainee, and a Librarian.
What to Expect EBCP Workshop
Improve Practice Stream Specifics
Learning objectives
To help participants advance their skills in critically appraising the literature, and their skills in acknowledging and incorporating values and preferences in clinical decision making. To acquire an understanding of common epidemiological concepts (e.g. interpreting hazard ratios, confidence intervals, critical appraisals of a systematic review) and advance their skills in using the literature for quality assurance, improving practice, and judging comparative effectiveness of health care interventions.
Who should attend
Clinicians Physicians, nurses, pharmacists, occupational and physiotherapists, dentists, chiropractors and other health-care professionals with limited prior exposure to concepts in evidence-based practice.
Improve Practice stream format
The workshop uses small-group formats for participants to acquire new EBP skills, and to practice those skills. Learners will be expected to actively engage in small group learning including identifying learning priorities and sharing responsibility for the learning environment in the small group. For example, learners will be asked to identify key papers, concepts, and examples of evidence that matters to their home practice. Learners will actively problem solve, critically appraise articles, and verbalize key EBM concepts to facilitate understanding.
What to Expect EBCP Workshop
How to Teach Stream Specifics
Learning objectives
To help participants advance their skills in critically appraising the literature, and their skills in incorporating values and preferences in clinical decision making.
To help participants advance their skills in teaching EBCP using a variety of educational models in different settings, with different types of learners.
Who should attend
Physicians, nurses, pharmacists, occupational and physiotherapists, dentists, chiropractors and other health-care professionals who have an understanding of the fundamentals of EBCP who anticipate future opportunities to teach the skills of EBCP to their learners.
How to Teach stream format
What many people don't realize: If you enroll in the teaching stream, you will be doing some of the teaching. The workshop uses small-group formats for participants to acquire new EBCP teaching skills and to practice those skills. Role play will simulate the teaching environments of the participants.