A Model for Integrating Evidence-based Medicine Teaching throughout the Undergraduate Medical Course.

A teaching model based on Evidence-based Medicine (EBM), already available in some medical schools in the United Kingdom, is being tried in the Florence Medical School, from the first to the final years. It consists of a problem-oriented didactic approach, that considers the clinical evaluation of the patient as crucial. This didactic method, while retaining the classical clinical history-taking and physical examination, integrates these with the use of electronic supports. Learning material, represented by original articles, systematic reviews and meta-analyses. is retrieved on-line and the students learn to be familiar with medicai hypertexts and computerised databases. In this way, students are guided in developing a critical approach to medical literature, learning at an early stage to formulate short and precise clinical questions targeted to the patients' main problems. Some practical indications regarding this methodological approach are presented. The response to this new teaching approach on the part of young medical students has so far been very positive. This indicates that the Florence Medical School is headed in the right direction, and the encouraging results represent a boost of confidence for future commitments.