title: Knowledge and Attitudes of Oman Medical Specialty Board Residents towards Evidence-Based Medicine.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study aims to evaluate the knowledge and attitudes of Oman Medical Specialty Board (OMSB) residents towards Evidence-Based Medicine (EBM).
  
  
  METHODS
  This cross sectional study was conducted on all OMSB residents through a self-administered online questionnaire between October 2012 and March 2013. An electronic survey was designed to identify and determine residents' knowledge and attitudes toward the use of EBM.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The survey was completed by 93 (21%) OMSB residents, 76 (82%) of whom took part in continuing education courses and 50 (54%) belonged to professional practice-oriented organizations. On average, the residents were reportedly involved in patient care for approximately 70% (Standard Deviation [SD] 17%) of their time, while 14% (SD 12%) participated in research activities. The results showed that 53 respondents (57%) were competent users of medical search engines compared to 23 residents (25%) who rated their skills as neutral. Sixteen percent of the respondents strongly agreed and 46% only agreed that the facility supports the use of current research in practice. Fourteen percent strongly agreed and fifty-three percent only agreed that the foundation of EBM is part of OMSB academic preparation. On the other hand, 17% of the respondents thought that insufficient time is always a barrier against EBM, while another 27% perceived insufficient time as a usual barrier. The lack of information resources was reported to always be a barrier in 11% of the respondents while 32% thought that it usually acts as a barrier.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Time constraints and skills in EBM were found to be the two major obstacles. This study was, however, limited by the low response rate of the survey; thus larger studies with a previously validated questionnaire should be conducted in the future.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Oman Medical Specialty Board, Muscat, Sultanate of Oman.
authors.forename: Aiman
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Al Wahaibi
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Oman Medical Specialty Board, Muscat, Sultanate of Oman.
authors.forename: Saada Al
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Adawi
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Oman Medical Specialty Board, Muscat, Sultanate of Oman.
authors.forename: Wafa Al
authors.initials: WA
authors.lastname: Shehhi
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology and Medical Statistics, Sultan Qaboos University, Muscat, Sultanate of Oman.
authors.forename: Syed Gauhar A
authors.initials: SG
authors.lastname: Rizvi
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesia, Sultan Qaboos University Hospital, Muscat, Sultanate of Oman.
authors.forename: Nasser
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Al-Kemyani
authors.affiliation: Emergency Department, Sultan Qaboos University Hospital, Muscat, Sultanate of Oman.
authors.forename: Khalfan
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Al-Amrani
authors.affiliation: Departments of Hematology, Sultan Qaboos University Hospital, P.O Box: 35, PC: 123, AL-Koudh, Muscat, Sultanate of Oman.
authors.forename: Murtadha
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Al-Khabori
keywords: Attitude; Evidence-Based Medicine; Knowledge; Residents