Table.

Comparison of participants' self rating of understanding of terms used in evidence based medicine with objective criteria developed by experts

Self rating of competence	No of responses	No of criteria met			Could not or refused to answer or participate	Positive predictive value (%)	Negative predictive value (%)
		All	Some	None
Levels of evidence:
I understand and could explain to others	7	0	0	6	1	0	100
Other responses	43	0	2	3	38
Relative risk:
I understand and could explain to others	9	0	0	8	1	0	100
Other responses	41	0	0	5	36
Absolute risk:
I understand and could explain to others	15	0	0	8	7	0	100
Other responses	35	0	0	1	34
Number needed to treat:
I understand and could explain to others	8	0	2	2	4	0	100
Other responses	42	0	0	4	38
Test sensitivity:
I understand and could explain to others	13	0	1	7	5	0	100
Other responses	37	0	1	4	32
Test specificity:
I understand and could explain to others	13	0	0	6	7	0	100
Other responses	37	0	0	3	34
Positive predictive value:
I understand and could explain to others	13	1	0	1	11	8	100
Other responses	37	0	0	0	37