Perceptions of Physicians and Nurses Towards Evidence-Based Practice in Obstetrics and Gynecology Departments at Mansoura University Hospitals

Background: Evidence Based Practice has been rapidly becoming a growth in the health professions. In Egypt, very little is known about physicians and nurses' perceptions towards evidence based practice and the extent of their skills to access and incorporate evidence based practice (medicine and nursing) into everyday clinical practices. The objective: Of this study was to describe the perceptions of physicians and nurses towards evidence based practice. The research team required this information as a data base to inform future research aimed at encouraging physicians and nurses to apply evidence based practice at Obstetrics and Gynecology departments. Research Design, the Study has: A cross sectional descriptive design study. Setting: The study was conducted at Obstetrics and Gynecology departments, Mansoura Hospitals. Participants: Involved all nurses and physicians who were working in the above mentioned setting during the study time. Results: Most of physicians and nurses agreed that application of EBP is necessary as it can improve the quality of obstetric care and help them to make decision of care Nurses had low level of awareness of extracting journals, databases and review publications and even physicians who were aware of some resourcs, many of them did not use it. The most commonly read journals among physicians were the Evidence Based Medicine (EBM) and MeReC Bulletins. Both physicians and nurses showed a partial understanding of technical terms used in research. The major perceived barriers to practice EBP were lack of research skills, inability to apply research findings into day to day care and lack of collective support. Limited access to international journals and data base and insufficient time were also discribed as barriers. Physicians and nurses thought that the most appropriate way to move towards evidence based practice was by using evidence based summaries which may be obtained from abstracting journals and evidence based guidelines prepared by others. Conclusion: Most of physicians and nurses were positive and interested in learning and improve skills necessary to apply EBP. Promoting and improving access to EBP summaries and guidelines would be the more appropriate method of moving to the use of EBP in obstetrics and gynecology departments.