Evidence-based practice of medical doctors in the Juiz de Fora municipality

Abstract

Evidence Based Medicine (EBM) is the process of systematically finding, appraising, and using contemporaneous research findings as the basis for clinical decisions. EBM practice requires constant update on topics associated with each doctor`s speciality. At the same time doctors should develop the ability to filter and select the most truthful scientific information to, after that, apply them to their patients’ demands.

            It was analyzed 102 self-assessment questionnaires (observational cross sectional study) in order to get to know the working doctor’s profile in Juiz de Fora – MG, their professional update, knowledge and the use of EBM in their daily medical practice.

Among the interviewee doctors, 87 (85,2%) are specialists, 12 (11,7%) are general practitioners, 35 (34,5%) are academic teachers and 52 (51,0%) work advising residents at hospitals with internal medicine training programs. Lack of time was the answer of 82 (80,4%) doctors about the main barrier to continue medical education. Case report articles were the most frequently read (27 doctors – 26,9%) among all scientific evidence  in the daily medical practice. Doctor’s personal experience was considered by 55 physicians (61,8%) as the key factor in their clinical decision making and there was significant statistical difference regarding this subject when analyzing the group of academic teachers and/or resident tutors answers.

EBM remain systematically absent in the daily medical practice of a significative group of doctors from Juiz de Fora – MG and greater attention to its knowledge/principles is lacking.

Keywords: Physicians; Evidence-based medicine; Professional Practice