title: Evidence-based medical practice in developing countries: the case study of Iran.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Attitude towards and knowledge of various groups of health care providers regarding evidence-based medicine (EBM) have been assessed worldwide. Also, barriers to practising EBM have been found to be different in different countries. However, there is little evidence on the place of EBM among some developing countries, like Iran. The aim of this study was to explore the current status of EBM among different medical specialists in Iran.
  
  
  METHODS
  This cross-sectional study was conducted from August 2007 until March 2009 on a sample of 181 doctors in different medical specialties practising in Isfahan, Iran, not including faculty members. Attitude towards EBM and the barriers in practice and awareness of technical terms were investigated through a self-administered questionnaire.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Less than half (41%) of the doctors reported they use EBM in their practice. They believed EBM improves the quality of health care services (70%); however, their understanding of the technical terms used in EBM was poor. The barrier to practising EBM identified by most respondents (74.3%) was the lack of EBM training courses in their academic curriculum.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Despite the general welcoming attitude of all groups of specialists, they had insufficient knowledge and inadequate use of EBM in their practice. Designing and conducting EBM training courses and its integration into the general practitioners' training curriculum should be considered.
authors.affiliation: School of Medicine, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran. mozafarpoor@gmail.com
authors.forename: Sarah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mozafarpour
authors.forename: Atefeh
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sadeghizadeh
authors.forename: Payam
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kabiri
authors.forename: Hajar
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Taheri
authors.forename: Manizheh
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Attaei
authors.forename: Nima
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Khalighinezhad
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003695:Delivery of Health Care / Q000592:standards*; D003906:Developing Countries; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine; D005260:Female; D058006:General Practice; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D020407:Internet; D007492:Iran; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019982:Organizational Case Studies; D010820:Physicians / Q000523:psychology