Evidence‐searching capability among health care professionals: a comparative study

• Main Authors: Szu-Yu Chi, Yu-Shiun Tsai, Tien-Pei Fang, Tao-Hsin Tung, Ching-Chi Chi
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: BMC 2021-02-01
• Series: BMC Medical Education
• Subjects: Evidence‐based medicine; Information storage and retrieval; Information seeking behavior; Knowledge acquisition
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12909-021-02565-3

Abstract Background Evidence-based practice is among core competencies of health care professionals (HCPs). However, the levels of evidence-searching capability may differ among various disciplines of HCPs as they receive different education and trainings for various durations in medical schools and teaching hospitals. Methods This study aimed to compare the evidence-searching capability among different disciplines of HCPs and identify which aspects need to be reinforced. From a teaching hospital, we recruited 80 HCPs of various disciplines and compared their evidence-searching capability by using a validated scale. To examine if sex and education levels affect evidence-searching capability, we performed a multiple linear regression analysis with collinearity diagnostics. Results Physicians and pharmacists performed significantly better than other disciplines in the seven formative assessment items and the summative item (all P < 0.05). No collinearity was detected between discipline and age nor level of education. Except for the 2nd formative assessment item (correlation coefficient 0.24 ± 0.12, P = 0.04), participant’s levels of education did not affect evidence-searching capability. Age was associated with lower evidence-searching capability in five formative and the summative assessment items. Conclusions We found a better evidence-searching capability among physicians and pharmacists than other HCPs who may require more training on evidence-searching skills. Also, evidence-searching skills training should be provided to HCPs irrespective of age and education levels.