Evidence-Based Medicine (EBM) education in schools of pharmacy in Japan: A questionnaire survey

Abstract

A questionnaire survey was conducted to clarify the current situation of Evidence-Based Medicine (EBM) education in schools of pharmacy in Japan. A total of 191 of 268 teaching staff from 72 schools completed the survey (71.3% response rate). Among 50 major EBM keywords, those concerning study design (randomized controlled trial, prospective cohort study, case-control study) and index of clinical trial data (odds/odds ratio, relative/absolute risk) were educated in almost all schools. On the other hand, keywords relevant to clinical inference, application of results of randomized controlled trials to patients, critical appraisal of systematic reviews, and development and interpretation of clinical practice guidelines were less educated. Only 32.2 percent of respondents self-assessed “fulfilling”. Challenges such as “time deficit”, “lack of exercise lesson and practical training”, “limited awareness and skills of teachers”, “lack of appropriate educational tools” were mentioned.