teaching evidence-based medicine more effectively

evidence-based medicine (ebm) is becoming an integral component of graduate medical education competency and a requirement for grad medical education practice-based learning core competency. this study tries to compare the efficacy of conferences utilizing small-group discussions with the traditional conference method in enhancing ebm competency. the participants in this randomized controlled trial (rct) were 170 members of the medical faculty who were divided into two groups of 86 (intervention) and 84 (control). following the intervention, ebm competency was assessed by a written examination. statistical analysis made use of chi-square test, independent sample t-test and relative risks for univariate analysis. mantel-hanszel was used for bivariate analysis. cox proportional hazard models were used to evaluate multivariate-adjusted associations between ebm educational intervention and ebm knowledge, attitude and skills. a new indicator of number needed to intervention (nni) was defined and computed. results: the results proved conference along with small-group discussion to be a more effective teaching method with p=0.001 on knowledge, p