Currently, evidence-based medicine is an essential element of standard healthcare practice. Evidence-based healthcare practice is important for cost-effectiveness, quality assurance, patient safety, and provision of optimal healthcare, ultimately leading to improved patient outcomes. 

Evidence-based approaches to medicine require the review of published literature, critical appraisal of that literature, and subsequent translation of the relevant evidence into practice. Healthcare practitioners must therefore be knowledgeable and skilled in their understanding of the research methodology commonly used in published research articles. 

Specifically, healthcare practitioners should be able to:

1. Recognize the study design utilized to answer the research question.
2. Describe the sampling technique.
3. Understand descriptive and analytical epidemiological studies.
4. Tabulate and interpret data.
5. Identify bias and confounding.
6. Appraise statistical significance and clinical relevance, and other relevant epidemiology and biostatistics topics.

The workshop will provide a platform for education and training for healthcare professionals, allowing them to become familiar with basic epidemiological and biostatistical concepts and research methodology.

Identified Practice Gaps

Despite widespread utilization of evidence-based medicine, healthcare professionals remain unfamiliar with basic epidemiological and biostatistical concepts commonly utilized in research. Additionally, healthcare professionals are interested in conducting research studies with sound methodology but lack the knowledge and skills to do so. Health professionals’ education is inadequate in research methodology. Knowledge and skills are required to review, evaluate and interpret published research. Improving healthcare professionals’ knowledge and skills in epidemiology and research methodology will result in better understanding of the available evidence and eventually allow them to practice evidence based-medicine, leading to improved patient outcomes.

Overall Learning Objectives 

At the end of the workshop, participants will be able to:

• Recognize basic epidemiological, biostatistical and research concepts.
• Discuss evidence-based approach to healthcare and medical practice.
• Interpret published research findings.

Target Audience

Physicians, nurses, pharmacists, dentists, allied health practitioners, researchers, educators, and administrators.