Upcoming Courses

Free for all CCNM faculty.

Evidence informed practice (EIP) involves the combination of scientific evidence with clinician judgement and patient preferences in order to optimize the quality of clinical care. However, navigating scientific evidence is challenging; in a recent survey, 93% of Canadian NDs said that they were interested in opportunities to improve these skills. In this upcoming CE course, participants will learn about research methodology and practice skills for searching for scientific evidence effectively. They will review the topic of bias and practice critical appraisal skills. Participants will also reflect on the process of applying evidence to clinical practice and how to integrate scientific knowledge with other sources of evidence in a manor consistent with naturopathic principles. A bonus advanced lecture for participants with a high level of research knowledge includes advanced critical appraisal and how to write and publish your own case report. All participants will receive digital handouts with links to important resources. The sessions will be delivered live, and participants are encouraged to attend synchronously; however, recording will be available for those individuals unable to attend live. This course was developed through a co-design process. Twenty-two Canadian NDs participated in focus groups and their feedback was used to create the course.

This course is part of a research project on EIP continuing education for Canadian naturopathic doctors. Participants will be required to complete an asynchronous reflection activity, including questionnaires, before and after the course. Participants who complete all of the questionnaires will be entered into a draw to win $500 cash.

Learning outcomes:
At the end of the course, participants will be able to:

• Define Evidence Informed Practice and recognize arguments for and against its use
• Understand the types of research study designs and their strengths and limitations
• Convert a clinical question in a structured, answerable question
• Identify multiple sources of evidence including scientific databases
• Create and execute an efficient search strategy to identify scientific literature
• Define bias and recognize sources of bias in different types of research
• Recognize important attributes of clinical trials, observational studies and systematic reviews which minimize bias and increase the reliability of study findings
• Reflect on the role of different sources of evidence in the practice of naturopathic medicine and the process of applying scientific knowledge in a way that is consistent with naturopathic principles

Schedule:
Pre-Course Learning Activity (1-hour): Pre-course Reflection on Current Use of Scientific Evidence
November 8, 8 - 9 p.m. ET: Lecture 1: The Basics of Reading Scientific Research
November 15, 8 - 9 p.m. ET: Lecture 2: Finding Scientific Evidence
November 22, 8 - 9 p.m. ET: Lecture 3: Appraising Scientific Evidence
November 29, 8 - 9 p.m. ET: Lecture 4: Applying Scientific Evidence
December 6, 8 - 9 p.m. ET: Lecture 5: Advanced topics
Post-Course Learning Activity (1-hour): Post-course Reflection on Current Use of Scientific Evidence