Evidence based practice: perspectives of Iranian urologists

Area of Science:

• Urology
• Medical Education
• Health Policy

Background:

• Evidence-based practice (EBP) is crucial for optimal patient care.
• Understanding physician attitudes and barriers to EBP is essential for implementation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess Iranian urologists' attitudes and beliefs regarding Evidence-Based Medicine (EBM).
• To identify barriers hindering the adoption of evidence-based practice (EBP) in urology.

Main Methods:

• A self-administered, Persian-language Likert scale questionnaire was used.
• Data were collected from urologists attending the Iranian Urology Association (IUA) annual meeting.
• Descriptive statistics were employed to analyze the collected data.

Main Results:

• 111 out of 500 urologists responded, showing a positive attitude towards EBP.
• A significant association was found between attitude scores and prior EBM workshop participation (P = .01).
• Major barriers identified were lack of time (64.8%), facilities (53.4%), and EBM training (29.4%).

Conclusions:

• Iranian urologists demonstrate positive attitudes toward EBP.
• Addressing barriers like time constraints and lack of training is vital.
• Recommendations include EBM workshops, access to pre-appraised databases, and supportive health policies.