Current
attitudes towards Evidence based medicine
(EBM) have not been explored among us. The
present study is a first insight into the
problem.
Methods:
A survey with 16 questions in a non
probabilistic sample of 239 medical doctors
of 24 health centers during 2003.
Results:
The survey was accepted by all except 2,1%
of cases. A personal positive attitude towards
promotion of EBM was declared by 94% assuming
a 76% among the coworkers. A 94.4% considered
useful the information arising from investigation.
Evidence based clinical practice was estimated
between 40 and 60% by 50.8% of respondents.
EBM would mean a benefit to patients according
to 88.9% of the sample although for 69.2%
of them, an additional burden. The way to
evidence based practice was chosen to be clinical
guidelines developed by experts though feeling
that the best choice would be the adquisition
of personal skills to critical appraisal of
medical literature. Internet databases search
during the month before varied between 0 and
40 with median in 2. All cases in the sample
had access to Internet. Technical English
was considered well managed by 41.5% A similar
proportion had assisted at least to one course
about EBM. A clear concept about 13 EBM items
was found to vary from 18.7% to 62.6%. Less
than 35% declared to manage well 9 of 13 concepts
commonly associated to EBM. Six o more years
of experience as medical doctors showed 54.3%
of cases, being 25 to 39 years old 83.3%.
Conclusions: 1.- Formal EBM
training should be part of medical syllabus
wherever is not. 2.-An important task will
be to preserve an independent and informed
personal criteria in the issues of interest
when authorities deliver clinical guidelines
or systematic reviews not necesarily according
to accepted methodology. 3.-The surveyed subjects
considered personal analysis and study of
the different issues of interest as the appropiate
way to EBM. 4.-The need for increase skill
in management of technical English appeared
evident in the group of study. Also important
resulted to find all medical doctors having
access to Internet.
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Keywords:
Evidence based medicine, EBM, survey |