# Evaluating search quality and article choice in evidence-based medicine assignments of preclinical students

## TL;DR

This study examines how well first-year medical students perform in an evidence-based medicine assignment, focusing on their search strategies and article choices.

## Contribution

The paper introduces a new approach to evaluating the relationship between search strategy quality and article selection in EBM education.

## Key findings

- Most students scored well in article selection but showed moderate performance in search strategy quality.
- A weak, non-significant correlation was found between search quality and article selection.
- Patterns in student performance suggest areas for improvement in EBM instruction.

## Abstract

This case report describes the integration of a capstone Evidence-Based Medicine (EBM) assignment into a first-year medical student curriculum and presents an analysis of the correlation between search strategy quality and article selection quality within that assignment.

A whole-task EBM assignment, requiring students to address a clinical scenario by completing all EBM steps, was implemented after a curriculum-integrated EBM course. Student performance on their search strategy and article selection was assessed using a rubric (1-4 scale). Spearman's rank correlation coefficient was used to assess the relationship between these two variables. Eighty-two students completed the assignment. Fifty-nine percent received a score of 3 for their search strategy, while 77% received a score of 4 for article selection. Spearman's rank correlation coefficient was 0.19 (p-value = 0.086).

While a weak, non-statistically significant correlation was observed between search quality and article selection, the analysis revealed patterns that may inform future instructional design. Educators should consider emphasizing the importance of selecting up-to-date and high-quality evidence and addressing common search errors. Further research, incorporating direct observation and baseline assessments, is needed to draw more definitive conclusions.