A survey of evidence-based medicine teaching in China

Objective: To investigate the situation and problems of medical evidence-based medicine (EBM) teaching in China. Methods: One hundred and four participants from different hospitals or universities of China in 2005 "Evidence-Based Medicine Teachers Advanced Training Workshop II of Ministry of Education" were investigated. A self-complete questionnaire on EBM teaching was given at the registration. Results: Seventy five questionaires from responders who came from 50 medical institutions of 18 provinces and 25 cities were available for analysis, representing a response rate of 72%. The average age of responders were 38 years old, and 61.3% were graduates. And 14 hospitals or universities have given EBM courses. Namely, for the postgraduates in 9 universities, undergraduates in 2 universities, physicians, nurses and medical managers in 2 hospitals. The lectures lasted from 8 to 36 hours in different units. Difficulties were: lack of EBM teachers, and better understanding the concept and approach of EBM, less paid attention by policy makers, and too busy in specialty. Conclusion: EBM teaching is blooming in medical universities in China. It is needed for us to train high qualified EBM teachers.