Critical Appraisal Worksheets for Integration Into an Existing Small-Group Problem-Based Learning Curriculum
Introduction Since medical students matriculate with a diversity of backgrounds, there can exist a disparity in student ability to critically appraise health science literature. To address this, we developed a critical appraisal exercise and integrated it into the first-year problem-based learning (...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Association of American Medical Colleges
2018-02-01
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| Series: | MedEdPORTAL |
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| Online Access: | http://www.mededportal.org/doi/10.15766/mep_2374-8265.10682 |
| _version_ | 1818405929984458752 |
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| author | Jessica O'Neil Colleen Croniger |
| author_facet | Jessica O'Neil Colleen Croniger |
| author_sort | Jessica O'Neil |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Introduction Since medical students matriculate with a diversity of backgrounds, there can exist a disparity in student ability to critically appraise health science literature. To address this, we developed a critical appraisal exercise and integrated it into the first-year problem-based learning (PBL) curriculum at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine. Methods For 8 weeks, first-year medical students read a weekly preselected health science literature article relating to the content of their PBL curriculum and completed a critical appraisal worksheet consisting of questions regarding study design and result interpretation. Students discussed the article and worksheet within PBL small groups. Faculty facilitators were given the critical appraisal worksheet answer key, which students later gained access to after the discussion. To measure changes in critical appraisal skills, a voluntary questionnaire based on the Berlin questionnaire, a validated tool for measuring knowledge and skills in evidence-based medicine, was administered before and after the 8-week intervention. Results Using paired Student t tests, we found that the students who completed both questionnaires (N = 60) showed an average improvement of 4% (p = .03). Students who scored at or below the 50th percentile on the preintervention questionnaire showed an average improvement of 12% (p = .002). Discussion These critical appraisal worksheets are easily adaptable to an existing PBL curriculum and are an effective tool for improving and teaching critical appraisal skills in those students who will benefit most. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-14T09:03:52Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-a00def97f70f4625817b4306d21368f6 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2374-8265 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-14T09:03:52Z |
| publishDate | 2018-02-01 |
| publisher | Association of American Medical Colleges |
| record_format | Article |
| series | MedEdPORTAL |
| spelling | doaj.art-a00def97f70f4625817b4306d21368f62022-12-21T23:08:45ZengAssociation of American Medical CollegesMedEdPORTAL2374-82652018-02-011410.15766/mep_2374-8265.10682Critical Appraisal Worksheets for Integration Into an Existing Small-Group Problem-Based Learning CurriculumJessica O'Neil0Colleen Croniger1Medical Student, Case Western Reserve University School of MedicineAssociate Professor, Department of Nutrition, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine; Assistant Dean of Medical Student Research and Basic Science Education, Case Western Reserve University School of MedicineIntroduction Since medical students matriculate with a diversity of backgrounds, there can exist a disparity in student ability to critically appraise health science literature. To address this, we developed a critical appraisal exercise and integrated it into the first-year problem-based learning (PBL) curriculum at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine. Methods For 8 weeks, first-year medical students read a weekly preselected health science literature article relating to the content of their PBL curriculum and completed a critical appraisal worksheet consisting of questions regarding study design and result interpretation. Students discussed the article and worksheet within PBL small groups. Faculty facilitators were given the critical appraisal worksheet answer key, which students later gained access to after the discussion. To measure changes in critical appraisal skills, a voluntary questionnaire based on the Berlin questionnaire, a validated tool for measuring knowledge and skills in evidence-based medicine, was administered before and after the 8-week intervention. Results Using paired Student t tests, we found that the students who completed both questionnaires (N = 60) showed an average improvement of 4% (p = .03). Students who scored at or below the 50th percentile on the preintervention questionnaire showed an average improvement of 12% (p = .002). Discussion These critical appraisal worksheets are easily adaptable to an existing PBL curriculum and are an effective tool for improving and teaching critical appraisal skills in those students who will benefit most.http://www.mededportal.org/doi/10.15766/mep_2374-8265.10682Core Entrustable Professional ActivitiesEvidence-Based MedicineProblem-Based LearningSmall-Group LearningCritical AppraisalInformation Literacy |
| spellingShingle | Jessica O'Neil Colleen Croniger Critical Appraisal Worksheets for Integration Into an Existing Small-Group Problem-Based Learning Curriculum MedEdPORTAL Core Entrustable Professional Activities Evidence-Based Medicine Problem-Based Learning Small-Group Learning Critical Appraisal Information Literacy |
| title | Critical Appraisal Worksheets for Integration Into an Existing Small-Group Problem-Based Learning Curriculum |
| title_full | Critical Appraisal Worksheets for Integration Into an Existing Small-Group Problem-Based Learning Curriculum |
| title_fullStr | Critical Appraisal Worksheets for Integration Into an Existing Small-Group Problem-Based Learning Curriculum |
| title_full_unstemmed | Critical Appraisal Worksheets for Integration Into an Existing Small-Group Problem-Based Learning Curriculum |
| title_short | Critical Appraisal Worksheets for Integration Into an Existing Small-Group Problem-Based Learning Curriculum |
| title_sort | critical appraisal worksheets for integration into an existing small group problem based learning curriculum |
| topic | Core Entrustable Professional Activities Evidence-Based Medicine Problem-Based Learning Small-Group Learning Critical Appraisal Information Literacy |
| url | http://www.mededportal.org/doi/10.15766/mep_2374-8265.10682 |
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