Teaching evidence based medicine is essential

Editor—The lack of teaching of evidence based medicine and the dismissal of epidemiology as mere biostatistics is appalling.¹ Medical schools nowadays tend to teach evidence based medicine just in the preclinical years. This risks students thinking of research as unimportant and rote learning of treatments as doctrine. But medicine is a constantly expanding science, and not an exact doctrine.

Teaching evidence based medicine in clinical years not only allows students to become familiar with analysing data, but also it encourages consultants to keep up to date with research. Astute evaluation of research allows greater patient rapport. The new Hippocratic oath states, “I will help patients find the information and support they want to make decisions on their care.”² Students can explain procedures and drugs to patients so that they can make informed decisions, rather than giving advice based solely on trust.³

Specialties should welcome undergraduate students into journal clubs for registrars and house surgeons. This would foster better communication between the ranks, better understanding of research, and enthusiasm for the field. Medical students should have to show competence in applying evidence based medicine within the context of the sociopolitical environment and the national healthcare system, with its resource constraints.

1. Wijesinghe M. Evidence based medicine should be taught in medical schools. studentBMJ 2005;13:87. (February.)
2. Longmore M, Wilkinson IB, Rajagopala S. Oxford handbook of clinical medicine. 6th ed. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2004.
3. James DK, Mahomed K, Stone P, Van Wijngaarden W, Hill LM. Evidence-based obstetrics: a companion volume to high risk pregnancy. 2nd ed. London: Saunders, 2003.