Using a learning coach to teach residents evidence-based medicine.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

Medical educators have used multiple interventions to teach evidence-based medicine (EBM) and information mastery. Most of these interventions are applied uniformly to a group of residents. We developed a curriculum to increase residents' EBM and information mastery skills that would meet individual learning needs.

METHODS

Two cohorts of second year residents (n=26) in the Family Medicine Residency Program at Brown University participated in the intervention. We delivered the curriculum through monthly individual meetings with a learning coach over 1 year. Before and after participating, residents completed a survey assessing their attitudes toward EBM and a quiz assessing their knowledge of EBM. Semi-structured interviews with each resident were done after the intervention and analyzed using qualitative methods.

RESULTS

At the conclusion of our intervention, residents' attitudes toward EBM and information mastery were overwhelmingly positive, EBM knowledge quiz scores increased by 31.8%, and reported use of EBM in real time during patient encounters increased.

CONCLUSIONS

An intervention using a learning coach to provide one-on-one EBM and information mastery instruction to residents improved residents' attitudes, knowledge, and use of both in the clinical setting.