How to teach a systematic review workshop using evidence-based medicine methodology in the field of CAM/IM

A systematic review is the gold standard approach for integrating evidence-based information and assessing gaps in healthcare, which require a specific and precise methodology not always taught in educational institutions or applied in practice. This lack in knowledge on how to properly conduct a systematic review impedes the development of rational, evidence-based health policy and contributes to the gap in translating evidence into practice as information in complementary and alternative medicine and integrative healthcare (CAM/IM) research continues to grow. In order to bridge this gap, Samueli Institute has developed a systematic review curriculum and teaches a 3-day introductory workshop on systematic review methodology and how to conduct a systematic review in a step-wise manner in the field of CAM/IM research. The instructors will share their “hands-on” approach to teaching and discuss diversities in learning while conquering five objectives of the curriculum. Instructors will share how to incorporate CAM/IM into the workshop and point out challenges to evidence-based medicine in CAM/IM. They will also share how to measure success through mentoring and evaluations, and lead a discussion around potential audiences for the workshop and how this might be incorporated into educational institutions who are focused on CAM/IM research.