Attitudes of general practice trainers to teaching evidence based medicine

Abstract

Evidence-based medicine (EBM) is an important component for quality in primary healthcare and is a key part of the curriculum for general practitioner registrars (GPRs). Little is known about the attitudes of general practice trainers to teaching EBM to their registrars. This exploratory focus group study sought to explore the views of general practice trainers to teaching EBM to future general practitioners (GPs) in training. The objectives of the study were to generate qualitative data on experiences, attitudes and beliefs of general practitioner trainers about EBM, to generate data on the barriers and facilitators that they experience in teaching EBM to registrars and to identify the learning needs of trainers in relation to teaching EBM. This study highlights the lack of confidence of general practitioner trainers in teaching EBM, especially the application of evidence to individual patients. Further research into how the teaching of EBM skills may be improved is recommended