Evidence-Based Medicine for the Medical Librarian

Evidence Based Medicine for the Medical Librarian will be offered from February 19th to April 15th 2018. The cost for this course will be $450 US dollars (only Visa/MasterCard accepted). Refund information here. Please e-mail Maggie Hite with any registration questions and to be added to the interest list. You will be alerted when registration opens. 

Course description

This 8-week online course is designed to be an introduction to the process of evidence-based practice (EBP) and to the supporting roles and opportunities for medical librarians. Participants will learn how to identify the basic study designs for clinical medicine, to compose focused clinical questions, to peer review search strategies and to assess the risk of bias in published studies. As you move through the content you will be able to identify roles librarians can undertake in providing EBP training and support.

The format of the course is a combination of a printed manual, independent readings, videos, webinars, and practice through a series of exercises. Instructors will guide you through the material and provide individual feedback for the exercises.

The course is approved for 3 academic credits.  UNC SILS students are expected to attend a MEDLINE session taught on campus by one of the instructors and write a research paper related to EBM and Medical Librarianship.

This course is also open to practicing librarians.  It has been approved for 20 MLA contact hours.   It will take approximately 30 hours to complete the course, depending on previous knowledge of EBM and other factors. 

For more information about the course, please e-mail Connie Schardt. For registration information, please e-mail Maggie Hite who will add you to the interest list for notification of registration for the Spring 2018 session. 
 

Course objectives

After completing this class, participants should be able to:
  • Identify and explain the 6 steps in the practice of EBP 
  • Identify the major study designs in clinical medicine
  • Identify the parts of a well-built clinical question 
  • Identify appropriate resources to answer clinical questions
  • Identify and explain the potential risks of bias in randomized controlled trials and systematic reviews. 
  • Identify and explain the potential risks of bias for at least one other type of study (prognosis, harm or diagnosis)
  • Identify at least 4 roles for librarians in supporting EBP education and practice for health care professionals

 

Course outline

Week One and Two: Introduction and Question Building
  • What is EBM?
  • Why is EBM important?
  • Is it reasonable to expect evidence from the literature?
  • What are the controversial issues surrounding EBM?
  • What is the librarian's role in EBM?
  • Constructing a well-built clinical question
  • Class Review 1 and Exercise 1
Week Three and Four: Selecting the Resources and Conducting the Search
  • Selecting resources
  • Searching MEDLINE
  • How to teach MEDLINE within context of EBM
  • Class Review 2 and Exercise 2
Week Five and Six: Evaluating the Evidence
  • Role of the Librarian
  • Appraising articles on Diagnosis
  • Appraising articles on Therapy
  • Appraising articles on Prognosis
  • Appraising articles on Etiology/Harm
  • Appraising articles on Overviews
  • Class Review 3 and Exercise 3
Week Seven and Eight: Roles for the Librarian, Final Assignment and Wrap-up
  • Roles for the Librarian
  • Final Assignment (and Final Project for UNC SILS students only)
  • Class evaluation
 

Instructors

Connie Schardt
Phone: 919-357-0593
Office hours: Mon. - Fri., 8:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. (EST)
 
Megan von Isenberg
Phone: 919-660-1131
Office hours by appointment
 

Refund Policy

Registration begins Monday 1/22/2018. Cost of course is $450.00
Date Refund Rate Amount Refunded
Tuesday, 1/23 90%  $405
Wednesday, 1/24 70% $315
Thursday, 1/25 50% $225 
Friday, 1/26 No Refunds