title: Clinical care improvement with use of health information technology focusing on evidence based medicine.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Healthcare institutions need timely patient information from various sources at the point-of-care. Evidence-based medicine (EBM) is a tool for proper and efficient incorporation of the results of research in decision-making. Characteristics of medical treatment processes and practical experience concerning the effect of EBM in the clinical process are surveyed.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross sectional survey conducted in Tehran hospitals in February-March 2012 among 51 clinical residents. The respondents were asked to apply EBM in clinical decision-making to answer questions about the effect of EBM in the clinical process. A valid and reliable questionnaire was used in this study.
  
  
  RESULTS
  EBM provides a framework for problem solving and improvement of processes. Most residents (76%) agreed that EBM could improve clinical decision making. Eighty one percent of the respondents believed that EBM resulted in quick updating of knowledge. They believed that EBM was more useful for diagnosis than for treatment. There was a significant association between out-patients and in-patients in using electronic EBM resources.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Research findings were useful in clinical practice and decision making. The computerized guidelines are important tools for improving clinical process quality. When learning how to use IT, methods of search and evaluation of evidence for diagnosis, treatment and medical education are necessary. Purposeful use of IT in clinical processes reduces workload and improves decision-making.
authors.affiliation: School of Health Management and Information Sciences, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Peyman Rezaei
authors.initials: PR
authors.lastname: Hachesu
authors.forename: Rezaei Hachesu
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Peyman
authors.forename: Maryam
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ahmadi
authors.forename: Aziz
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rezapoor
authors.forename: Rezapoor
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Aziz
authors.forename: Zahra
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Salahzadeh
authors.forename: Salahzadeh
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Zahra
authors.forename: Sadughi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Farahnaz
authors.forename: Farahnaz
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Sadughi
authors.forename: Nader
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Maroufi
authors.forename: Maroufi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nader
keywords: Decision Making; Evidence-Based Medicine; Guideline; Health Information Technology; Therapeutic Process