Preparing medical students to incorporate scientific evidence into patient care : A cross-sectional study
(2025) In PLoS ONE 20(4 APRIL).- Abstract
Objective To explore teaching- and assessment-related factors that predict medical students' perceived attainment of sufficient skills to incorporate scientific evidence into patient care. Methods An anonymous questionnaire was distributed to final-semester students in six medical programs in Sweden. The students were asked to rate statements concerning the extent to which 11 national degree outcomes related to the scientific basis of medicine (scholarly degree outcomes) had been adequately assessed during the program; their perceived preparedness for evidence-based patient care; and training during the program regarding the components of a systematic review/health technology assessment (HTA). Results In total, 433 students (median age:... (More)
Objective To explore teaching- and assessment-related factors that predict medical students' perceived attainment of sufficient skills to incorporate scientific evidence into patient care. Methods An anonymous questionnaire was distributed to final-semester students in six medical programs in Sweden. The students were asked to rate statements concerning the extent to which 11 national degree outcomes related to the scientific basis of medicine (scholarly degree outcomes) had been adequately assessed during the program; their perceived preparedness for evidence-based patient care; and training during the program regarding the components of a systematic review/health technology assessment (HTA). Results In total, 433 students (median age: 25 years [interquartile range: 24-28], 59% female) participated in the study (response rate: 68%). A multivariate analysis indicated that experienced adequate assessment on a single scholarly degree outcome (i.e., "Demonstrate knowledge of the scientific foundation of medicine and insight into current research as well as knowledge of the link between science and proven experience") predicted the students' perception of having developed sufficient skills in incorporating scientific evidence into patient care (odds ratio: 6.17 [95% confidence interval: 3.10; 12.3]). The educational content predictors of this perception included the teaching of HTA (11.3 [1.44; 89.5]) and training regarding two components of a systematic review/HTA: appraising scientific articles using checklists (2.46 [1.23; 4.90]) and assessing organizational aspects related to the introduction/withdrawal of a health technology (2.65 [1.05; 6.67]). The presence of hands-on, credit-bearing, evidence-based medicine (EBM)-related learning activities during clinical courses was also predictive (4.68 [1.69; 13.0]). Conclusions This study highlights important educational activities that prepare medical students to incorporate scientific evidence into patient care: (i) adequate assessment of key content regarding scholarly outcomes, including the scientific foundation of medicine; (ii) learning activities about HTA and the systematic review process; and (iii) hands-on application of EBM-related learning activities integrated into clinical courses.
(Less)
- author
- Wallerstedt, Susanna M. ; Garwicz, Martin LU ; Henriksson, Pontus ; Mossberg, Karin ; Naumburg, Estelle ; Wahlberg, Jeanette and Möller, Riitta
- organization
- publishing date
- 2025-04
- type
- Contribution to journal
- publication status
- published
- subject
- in
- PLoS ONE
- volume
- 20
- issue
- 4 APRIL
- article number
- e0321211
- publisher
- Public Library of Science (PLoS)
- external identifiers
-
- scopus:105002114064
- pmid:40184390
- ISSN
- 1932-6203
- DOI
- 10.1371/journal.pone.0321211
- language
- English
- LU publication?
- yes
- id
- cfe8d74c-8a96-4c3e-9a0a-8da5d8290ff4
- date added to LUP
- 2025-08-25 12:25:36
- date last changed
- 2025-08-26 03:00:01
@article{cfe8d74c-8a96-4c3e-9a0a-8da5d8290ff4,
abstract = {{<p>Objective To explore teaching- and assessment-related factors that predict medical students' perceived attainment of sufficient skills to incorporate scientific evidence into patient care. Methods An anonymous questionnaire was distributed to final-semester students in six medical programs in Sweden. The students were asked to rate statements concerning the extent to which 11 national degree outcomes related to the scientific basis of medicine (scholarly degree outcomes) had been adequately assessed during the program; their perceived preparedness for evidence-based patient care; and training during the program regarding the components of a systematic review/health technology assessment (HTA). Results In total, 433 students (median age: 25 years [interquartile range: 24-28], 59% female) participated in the study (response rate: 68%). A multivariate analysis indicated that experienced adequate assessment on a single scholarly degree outcome (i.e., "Demonstrate knowledge of the scientific foundation of medicine and insight into current research as well as knowledge of the link between science and proven experience") predicted the students' perception of having developed sufficient skills in incorporating scientific evidence into patient care (odds ratio: 6.17 [95% confidence interval: 3.10; 12.3]). The educational content predictors of this perception included the teaching of HTA (11.3 [1.44; 89.5]) and training regarding two components of a systematic review/HTA: appraising scientific articles using checklists (2.46 [1.23; 4.90]) and assessing organizational aspects related to the introduction/withdrawal of a health technology (2.65 [1.05; 6.67]). The presence of hands-on, credit-bearing, evidence-based medicine (EBM)-related learning activities during clinical courses was also predictive (4.68 [1.69; 13.0]). Conclusions This study highlights important educational activities that prepare medical students to incorporate scientific evidence into patient care: (i) adequate assessment of key content regarding scholarly outcomes, including the scientific foundation of medicine; (ii) learning activities about HTA and the systematic review process; and (iii) hands-on application of EBM-related learning activities integrated into clinical courses.</p>}},
author = {{Wallerstedt, Susanna M. and Garwicz, Martin and Henriksson, Pontus and Mossberg, Karin and Naumburg, Estelle and Wahlberg, Jeanette and Möller, Riitta}},
issn = {{1932-6203}},
language = {{eng}},
number = {{4 APRIL}},
publisher = {{Public Library of Science (PLoS)}},
series = {{PLoS ONE}},
title = {{Preparing medical students to incorporate scientific evidence into patient care : A cross-sectional study}},
url = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0321211}},
doi = {{10.1371/journal.pone.0321211}},
volume = {{20}},
year = {{2025}},
}