UAE, January 21, 2016 – The Ministry of Health’s Training and Development Center recently organized a workshop on the fundamentals of the critical evaluation and appraisal of scientific papers and research for physicians, nurses, pharmacists and other health professionals. British health expert and book author Dr. Gorbal Gosal delivered the workshop held from January 18 to 19, 2016 at the center’s headquarters in Sharjah.

The training of 119 health professionals in the country focused on the importance of evidence-based medicine. Among the topics of discussions were effective evaluations of published studies and their methodologies, identification of strengths and weaknesses of research works, use of accurate statistical data analysis, proper presentation of results, and implementation of effective conclusions to lead to more informed decisions on clinical practice.

Director of the Center Saqr AlHemeiri said: “The workshop demonstrates our full support for the ‘Year of Reading’ initiative of H.H. Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, UAE President, which was launched to demonstrate our leaders’ commitment to spread a culture of reading within our communities. The national initiative is also meant to make the UAE a global capital for knowledge and culture par excellence.”

AlHemeiri emphasized that evidence-based medicine increases the quality of patient care, enhances the performance of all health professionals and institutions, reduces waste, and establishes a healthcare system that uses evidence to ensure better operational management. In this regard, the center implements efforts comprising research review and training programs as part of its continuing medical education initiatives.

The workshop also aimed to develop the ability of health professionals to make recommendations regarding future research topics. The learning session forms part of the Development and Rehabilitation Center’s numerous activities and initiatives developed to promote the ‘Year of Reading’ initiative within the local health sector. The center aims to highlight the benefits of reading books, magazines, and research works and their role in improving healthcare in the country to make it at par with the highest international standards.