| Summary: | [english] UpToDate is an evidence-based resource to support clinical decision-making created by doctors. UpToDate has a wide dissemination in Germany. In a multicenter study, physicians, students, scientists and other healthcare professionals at four German universities were asked about their use of UpToDate. The survey was answered 1,083 times, including 540 doctors. 76% of the surveyed physicians (but only 54% of chief physicians) used UpToDate. The lack of knowledge about UpToDate amounted to 10–41%, depending on the user group. 90 to 95% of all clinically active persons named the quick, general overview of diagnosis and therapy of diseases as the main advantage of UpToDate. Every fourth senior doctor pointed to reduced length of stay as a result of UpToDate, (almost) every fourth chief physician stated that UpToDate saved costs. UpToDate is an important but expensive resource in patient care and should be promoted more aggressively by the librarians – given the existing lack of knowledge about the existence of this resource.
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