The impact of an evidence-based medicine (EBM) learning program on community pharmacists

In recent years, the practice of and education for evidence-based medicine (EBM) has increased. The purpose of this research was to elucidate the educational effect of an EBM learning program on participating pharmacists. From April 2016 to December 2016, a monthly workshop was held for 23 participants to teach the knowledge and skills necessary for practicing EBM. A self-evaluation questionnaire on the practice of EBM was conducted four times : at the beginning, during, at the end, and after three months of the training. Although the total study time did not change, the time spent browsing through medical articles increased. The resistance to reading medical articles decreased after participating in the EBM learning program. Furthermore, the participants were more likely to share evidence with practitioners and make decisions regarding pharmaceutical inquiries and medical proposals to prescribers. The acquired knowledge and skills necessary for the practice of EBM remained three months after the end of the training program.