Background: Realizing the benefits of EBM for clinical work, a number of medical colleges in China have established EBM courses. However, the effects and limitations have not been investigated. Objectives: To preliminarily investigate the effects of EBM courses and the limitations of current EBM education in China. Methods: A questionnaire including five items was used in the investigation for clinical doctors and medical students in four of China’s 3-A hospitals. Results: The data of 84 respondents were collected (including 25 refresher doctors or students from less developed hospitals). Participants who had no knowledge of EBM in the first question were excluded for further assessment. 1. In the first question, 9.52% (8/84) were quite familiar with EBM, 21.43% (18/84) were familiar with EBM, 57.14% (48/84) had a basic knowledge about EBM, and 11.91% (10/84, the percentage was 10/25 in participants from colleges without EBM course) had never heard of EBM; 2. 4.06% (3/74) could apply EMB without difficulties; 63.51% (47/74) still needed further study; 32.43% (24/74) were not able to apply EBM totally in their work; 3. in a multichoice question, 86.49% (64/74) obtained the EBM knowledge from classroom teaching and 56.76% (42/74) from internet, relevant references or books; 4. 81.08% (60/74) considered it necessary to increase class hours of EBM; 10.81% (8/74) thought they did not need more education in school time; and the rest (8.11%, 6/74) thought whether increasing the class hours or not did not change much; 5. in the final multichoice question, 89.19% (66/74) showed their interest in therapy aspects in EBM, 54.05% (40/74) needed diagnostic knowledge, 24.32% (18/74) were interested in prognosis study, while 41.89% (31/74) wanted to learn more about the methodology. Conclusions: EBM courses are helpful for medical students. More EBM education about therapy, diagnosis and methodology is needed in China. Increasing class hours of EBM may be a solution. The sampling size should be broadened in further investigations.