Designing, implementation and evaluation of an evidence-based journal club program in the school of Persian medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences

Introduction: Due to the lack of evidence-based medicine (EBM) program in the Persian medicine curriculum, the EBM journal clubs were implemented as a method for teaching EBM and to evaluate its efficacy and satisfaction of participants.   Methods: EBM journal clubs which was designed and implemented in 1398 and 1399 in the school of Persian Medicine of Iran University of Medical Sciences was a combination of an EBM workshop with EBM Journal Clubs, which included designing clinical questions and searching and critically appraising the evidence, and using EBM checklists. The evaluation was performed with a structured researcher-made questionnaire to assess the efficacy of the program, and a non-structured questionnaire to assess the strengths and weaknesses of the program, the expectations, and suggestions of the participants. Results: Ten students who participated in more than 70% of sessions believed that the program was effective in conveying EBM concepts (90-100% of participants), but was not effective enough in gaining the ability to use statistical concepts (30% of participants). All of them stated that they need more practice and learning. A qualitative review of the opinions of 16 persons (some of them participated in less than 70% of the sessions) identified the strengths and weaknesses of the program, expectations, and suggestions for future programs. Conclusion: EBM journal club is an appropriate method to transfer EBM knowledge; however, to improve the efficacy of the program, other interventions such as mandatory participation of the students, improving the knowledge of masters of Persian medicine about EBM and continuing the program are suggested.