Methods and Logic in Medicine 1
MS-1

January 6, 2010 – May 19, 2010
19 sessions

Course Director
Peter Drain, PhD
Associate Professor
Department of Cell Biology and Physiology
drain@pitt.edu

Course Director
Rachel J. Givelber, MD
Assistant Professor
Department of Medicine
givelberrj@upmc.edu

Course Description

Methods and Logic in Medicine (MLM) 1 integrates the themes of the clinical expertise and scientific reasoning. Students learn how clinical trials, medical databases, and translational medicine are foundations of evidence-based medicine and patient-centered care. The goal of MLM is to help medical students to become medical practitioners/investigators, who are current with the latest advances in medicine. The course is divided into two parts: MLM A and MLM B.

MLM A focuses on the critical evaluation of research articles, with the goal of helping students to understand how knowledge is derived from biomedical research.

The goals of MLM A are that students:

1. critically evaluate a biomedical research article—background, hypothesis, study design, results, statistics, key information, validity of conclusions.
2. engage in self-directed learning.

In MLM B students continue learning about critical appraisal of medical literature. The goal is for students to learn how the medical literature is used to formulate a scientifically rigorous approach for taking care of the patient. Patient information is from cases and live interviews.

The goals of MLM B are that students:

1. learn to identify patient questions from a patient’s presentation.
2. search the literature to find articles pertinent to the patient.
3. critique the literature.
4. relate the literature to the patient.

Students work in small-group Journal Clubs, with 8–9 students and 2 facilitators per group. Students take turns serving as Investigators and Evaluators. Investigators make PowerPoint presentations of articles. Evaluators review articles. By the end of MLM B students also identify an area of interest for a scholarly project that will be further developed in MLM C and D. In addition, students independently study online material for the course.

The 43 faculty for this course are from 14 departments: Anesthesiology; Cell Biology and Physiology; Emergency Medicine; Family Medicine; Neurobiology; Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences; Ophthalmology; Pathology; Pediatrics; Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation; Psychiatry; Surgery; Urology; and Environmental and Occupational Health (School of Public Health).

Educational Methods

	Journal club		Literature critique		Self-directed learning		Oral presentation using PowerPoint
	Case-based small group discussion		Independent study		Patient interview

Evaluation

Evaluation for Methods and Logic in Medicine 1 is based on the combined points for MLM A and MLM B.

Evaluation for MLM A is based on selection of a high quality article, PowerPoint presentation of the article, contributions to discussion, critical evaluations of articles presented, and timeliness in all assignments. There is a maximum of 5 points for MLM A.

Evaluation for MLM B is based on the participation in classroom discussion demonstrating knowledge of articles and critical thinking; presentation of the material/case in the small group settings; timeliness in all aspects; and the completion of the online learning module. In addition, each student must select an area of interest for his or her scholarly project. There is a maximum of 5 points for MLM B.

Grading: This course comprises 100% of the Scientific Reasoning in Medicine Block, Section 2. Grading for the block section is Honors, Satisfactory, Unsatisfactory.

Faculty Note

Peter Drain, PhD, is a recipient of the Sheldon Adler Award for Innovation in Medical Education. Allen Humphrey, PhD, is a recipient of the Kenneth E. Schuit Award, several Excellence in Education Awards for Outstanding Course Director, and several Pre-clinical Golden Apple Awards. Donald B. Middleton, MD, is a recipient of the Kenneth E. Schuit Award and the Excellence in Education Award for Small Group Facilitator. Beth Piraino, MD, is a recipient of the Kenneth E. Schuit Award. Kanchan Rao, MD, is a recipient of the Chancellor’s Distinguished Teaching Award and the Kenneth E. Schuit Award. In addition, Peter Drain, PhD; Allen Humphrey, PhD; and John Mahoney, MD, are members of the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine Academy of Master Educators.