title: Knowledge and attitude toward evidence-based medicine among medical students in Semnan, Iran.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Evidence-based medicine (EBM) has gained widespread acceptance in medicine. Little is known about the attitudes, knowledge, and behavior of medical students toward EBM in developing countries. This study was designed to assess medical students' awareness and attitudes toward EBM and to obtain the basis required for developing appropriate teaching and learning opportunities.
  
  
  METHODS
  This was a cross-sectional study in which medical students completed a questionnaire to determine their attitudes, knowledge, and perceptions regarding EBM.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Completed questionnaires were received from 84% (143) of 170 medical students. Only 24.5% of respondents had good basic information and familiarity with the term of EBM. The majority (89.3%) of participants had positive attitude toward EBM and agreed that it was useful in the management of patients. Mostly were interested in learning the skills of EBM. Most of the respondents (80.2%) had no or little awareness of EBM resources especially the Cochrane, DARE, and Bandolier clinical evidence database. Forty-two (29%) reported having had formal training in search strategies. Most of the respondents did not understand but would like to learn about technical terms used in EBM, and about a third felt able to explain to others the meaning of some of these terms.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study demonstrates lack of adequate knowledge about basic concepts of EBM among medical student. On the other hands, there is an overall positive attitude toward EBM. There is need for educational interventions and incorporating formal teaching of EBM at medical education.
authors.affiliation: Semnan University of Medical Science, Semnan, Iran.
authors.forename: Farahnaz
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ghahremanfard
authors.forename: Mohammad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nassaji
authors.forename: Majid
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mirmohammadkhani
authors.forename: Asghar
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tanha
authors.forename: Mehdi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mosavi
authors.forename: Ali
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ghaemi
authors.forename: Prastoo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Shams
mesh_terms: D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D007492:Iran; D008297:Male; D013337:Students, Medical / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: Attitude; evidence‐based medicine; knowledge; medical students