Evaluation of Educational Intervention to Teach Principles of Evidence-based Medicine (EbM) in Biology Classes

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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The purpose of this study is to identify the effect of a short term educational intervention for upcoming biology teachers to teach principles of Evidence-based Medicine (EbM) and Good Scientific Practice (GSP) to high-school biology students.

Detailed Description
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Shared decision making is increasingly demanded by patients in order to take part in health care decisions. However this demand for autonomy can only be used for shared decision making if the patient has basic skills in critical health literacy. To transfer health care literacy to young and healthy consumers educational intervention programs at high-school might be a feasible and effective way. This preliminary phase 2 study is designed to investigate the effect of an educational intervention to be integrated in a curriculum for upcoming teachers in biology.

Official Title
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Phase II Study of a Short Term Educational Intervention for Upcoming Biology Teachers to Teach Principles of Evidence-based Medicine (EbM) in Biology Classes at High-school

Conditions
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Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice

Intervention / Treatment
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* Behavioral: Experimental educational intervention
* Behavioral: Standard educational intervention


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: students becoming biology teachers at participating university during enrollment period Exclusion Criteria: refusal to participate in study
Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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No

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Design Details

Primary Purpose: Health Services Research
Allocation: Non-Randomized
Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment
Masking: None (Open Label)


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Experimental: Experimental educational intervention<br>Experimental educational intervention | Behavioral: Experimental educational intervention<br>* Educational intervention consisting of a 4-day-course in Evidence-based Medicine and Good Scientific Practice combined with the method of Problem-based Learning.<br>|
| Active Comparator: Standard educational intervention<br>Standard educational intervention | Behavioral: Standard educational intervention<br>* Educational intervention on the didactics of biology (4-day-course) not containing elements of Evidence-based Medicine, Good Scientific Practice or Problem-based learning.<br>|

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Difference in knowledge about EbM/GSP | Difference in knowledge about EbM/GSP measured by alternating standardized, pre-validated, single-best/short-answer questionnaires consisting of 20 questions each | Before (day1), during (day 2) and after (day 4) intervention | 

Secondary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Difference in skills about critically appraising scientific literature | Difference in skills about critically appraising scientific literature measured by alternating randomized-controlled trials evaluated by a standardized checklist related to items of the CONSORT statement. | Before (day 1), during (day 2) and after (day 4) intervention | 
| Skills in teaching principles of EbM and GSP to high school students in intervention group | Skill in teaching principles of EbM and GSP are evaluated for preparation of lessons using a standardized preparation form and performance of lessons evaluated by transcription of video tapes from each participant in the intervention group using a consented evaluation catalogue | After educational intervention (day 5) | 
| Overall acceptance of educational intervention study participants | Overall acceptance of educational intervention is evaluated by standardized questionnaires at day 2 and day 4 in the educational intervention group. | During (day 2) and after intervention (day 4) | 
| Overall acceptance of study lessons for biology high-school students | Overall acceptance of study lessons for biology high-school students is evaluated by a standardized questionnaire at day 5. | After study lessons (day 5) | 

 Terms related to the study
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Keywords Provided by Centre Hospitalier Valida
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Evidence-based Medicine, Good Scientific Practice, Problem-based Learning, Critical health literacy, Educational intervention