Time Schedule:
Peter Tarczy-Hornoch
HUBIO 590
Seattle Campus
Introduction to methods for: a) identifying and retrieving high quality, relevant documents for clinical decision making, b) applying rigorous criteria when reading primary research studies, reviews of primary studies, or other medical information sources that report on the effectiveness of therapeutic or preventive interventions. Prerequisite: first-year medical students. Offered: W.
Class description
Introduction to methods for: a) identifying and retrieving high quality, relevant documents for clinical decision making, b) applying rigorous criteria when reading primary research studies or reviews of primary studies or other medical information sources that report on the effectiveness of therapeutic or preventive interventions. Prerequisite: First-year medical student standing.
Student learning goals
1. Describe the value of high quality medical information for clinical care (e.g. issues of safety, cost, quality of care)
2. Describe the range of factors that influence the clinical decision making process (e.g. evidence, guidelines, customs, experience, biases, personal & organizational values, patient factors/values)
3. Translate a clinical situation/scenario into a searchable question
4. Describe advantages and limitations of various medical information resources (e.g. Pubmed or UpToDate) and types of documents (e.g. systematic review or consensus guideline)
5. Find candidate documents from one or more medical information resource(s) that may address the clinical situation
6. Assess systematically the relevance and validity of a given document with respect to the clinical situation AND 7. Compare relevance and validity across two documents
General method of instruction
Lecture and small group
Recommended preparation
Prerequisites: University of Washington Medical Students
Class assignments and grading
Readings and problems sets due for small group sessions, not graded, not turned in
Participation in small groups and passing the final exam
