Introduction to Evidence Based Medicine
BUSM III: Family Medicine Clerkship
Boston University Medical Center
Tutorial Index
Tutorial Home
Key for Using this Tutorial
Why Bother With EBM?
(4 pages)
Where Do Questions Arise?
4 Elements of a Clear Clinical Question
Why Be So Specific About the Question? (2 pages)
Step 1: Define the Patient or Problem
Step 2: Define the Intervension
Step 3: Define the Comparison
Step 4: Define the Outcome
Summary Table

A SUMMARY TABLE

xx 1. Patient or problem 2.Intervention
(a cause, a prognostic factor, a treatment, etc. 		3.Comparison intervention (if necessary) 4. Outcome(s)
Tips for building
 Starting with your patient, ask "how would you describe a group of patients similar to mine?" Ask: "Which main intervention am I considering". Be specific. Ask:"What is the main alternative to compare with the intervention?" Be specific. "What can I hope to accomplish" or, "What could this exposure really affect?"
Example: Maria Rivera
 "In women with high lipids, diabetes, HTN, and smoking.." "…would lowering cholesterol .." "…when compared with no treatment…" "…lead to lower mortality or morbidity from CHD?"

Created by John Wiecha, Department of Family Medicine, Boston University School of Medicine.
Website designed by Stefanie Curry, Department of Family Medicine, Boston University School of Medicine.
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