Assessing the impact of clinical information-retrieval technology in a family practice residency.

Rationale And Objective: Evidence-based sources of information do not integrate self-assessment tools to assess the impact of a users' search for clinical information. We present a method to evaluate evidence-based sources of information, by systematically assessing the impact of searches for clinical information in everyday practice.

Methods: We integrated an information management tool (InfoRetriever 2003) with an educational intervention in a cohort of 26 family medicine residents.

Effect of a PDA-assisted evidence-based medicine course on knowledge of common clinical problems.

Background And Objectives: It is not yet known if personal digital assistant (PDA)-assisted evidence-based medicine (EBM) courses in postgraduate training enhance knowledge of common clinical problems. This study's objective was to determine if PDA-assisted EBM training would improve clinical knowledge.

Methods: In a controlled trial, intervention group residents received InfoRetriever on a PDA coupled with an EBM course integrated within clinical rotations in family medicine.