Objective To investigate the hot topics of research on evidence-based medicine in 2002. Method To search MEDLINE for papers on evidence-based medicine published in 2002, identify high-frequency subject headings related to research on evidence-based medicine, and cluster the high-frequency subject headings according to rates they appeared in common papers. Results 545 papers, 1 554 subject headings, 30 high-frequency subject headings on evidence-based medicine, and nine clustering categories of high-frequency subject headings were identified through search. Conclusions Both high-frequency subject headings and their clustering categories suggested that “evidence-based practice guidelines and their innovation”, “evidence-based health research and health policy”, “methodology on systematic reviews and randomized clinical trials”, “method of evidence-based decision making and its application in various subjects”, were the hot topics of evidence-based medicine. They provided useful references for Chinese medical professionals to practice evidence-based medicine.