The attitude of German medical students towards evidence-based medicine

Tags: Oral
Steinhausen K1, Mostovic T1
1Furtwangen University

Background: The German Health Care System faces challenges such as demographic change, chronic diseases and gaps in healthcare delivery. Simultanously there is a need to increase quality in healthcare. Evidence-based healthcare is known to improve quality and efficiency in patient treatment but has not been fully implemented into the German healthcare system, although some approaches exist. Future medical doctors are relevant stakeholders for the implementation of evidence-based medicine (EbM) into the healthcare system. Their training in, and attitudes towards EbM are key success factors for the implementation of EbM into the German healthcare system.

Objectives: To explore the attitude of medical students towards the concept of EbM and the role of EbM in medical education.

Methods: We performed a quantitative study among medical students from Freiburg Medical School, Germany, mostly in their fourth or fifth year of study. A questionnaire was developed and distributed in a course with 154 students; 105 students (68.2%) participated in the study. We analysed the data using the programme SPSS. In addition there were a small number of open questions which were analysed qualitatively.

Results: Analysis showed that:

- 97% of the students consider the concept of EbM as relevant (41%) or extremely relevant (56%) for the future;

- 86.5% of the students reported that they use EbM methods in their daily practise;

- 65.4% of the students think that therapeutic decisions need to be based on EbM;

- the open questions revealed that patient involvement and participation in EbM is less well known among the students; - 57% of the students reported that EbM was used during their clinical training;

- 78% reported the need for more practical training in EbM in the hospital and 85% for more EbM in the curriculum in general;

- only 56% stated that they are sufficiently trained in EbM at Medical School.

Conclusions: There is a positive attitude towards EbM among medical students and a need for more training in EbM in general. The EbM curricula at German Medical Schools should be increased and include the role of patient autonomy in EbM as an important focus.

Patient or healthcare consumer involvement: Patients will profit from an improved knowledge of EbM among German doctors, further studies should focus on patient perception of EbM.