title: Self-perception and knowledge of evidence based medicine by physicians.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The influence, legitimacy and application of Evidence Based Medicine (EBM) in the world is growing as a tool that integrates, the best available evidence to decision making in patient care. Our goal was to identify the relationship between self-perception about the relevance of Evidence Based Medicine (EBM) and the degree of basic knowledge of this discipline in a group of physicians.
  
  
  METHODS
  A survey was carried out in a third level public hospital in Mexico City. Self-perception was measured by means of a structured scale, and the degree of knowledge through parameter or "rubrics" methodology.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 320 questionnaires were given to 55 medical students (17 %); 45 pre-graduate medical interns (14 %); 118 medical residents (37 %) and 102 appointed physicians of different specialties (32 %). Self-perception of EBM: The majority of those surveyed (n = 274, 86 %) declared that they were very or moderately familiar with EBM. The great majority (n = 270, 84 %) believe that EBM is very important in clinical practice and 197 physicians (61 %) said that they implement it always or usually. The global index of self-perception was 75 %. Knowledge of EBM: Definition of EBM; Seven of those surveyed (2 %) included 3 of the 4 characteristics of the definition, 82 (26 %) mentioned only two characteristics of the definition, 152 (48 %) mentioned only one characteristic and 79 (25 %) did not include any characteristic of EBM. Phases of the EBM process: The majority of those surveyed (n = 218, 68 %) did not include the steps that characterize the practice of EBM, of which 79 participants (25 %) mentioned elements not related to it. The global index of knowledge was 19 %.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The majority of the surveyed physicians have a high self-perception of the relevance of EBM. In spite of this, the majority of them did not know the characteristics that define the EBM and phases of the process for its practice. A major discrepancy was found between self-perception and the level of basic knowledge of EBM among the surveyed physicians.
authors.affiliation: Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM), México City, Mexico.
authors.forename: Karen A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Aguirre-Raya
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Publications, Hospital Infantil de México Federico Gómez (HIMFG), National Health Institute, México City, Mexico.
authors.forename: María F
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Castilla-Peón
authors.affiliation: Evidence-Based Medicine Research Unit, Hospital Infantil de México Federico Gómez (HIMFG), National Health Institute, México City, Mexico.
authors.forename: Leticia A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Barajas-Nava
authors.affiliation: Evidence-Based Medicine Research Unit, Hospital Infantil de México Federico Gómez (HIMFG), National Health Institute, México City, Mexico.
authors.forename: Violeta
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Torres-Rodríguez
authors.affiliation: Direction of Research, Hospital Infantil de México Federico Gómez (HIMFG), National Health Institute, México City, Mexico.
authors.forename: Onofre
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Muñoz-Hernández
authors.affiliation: Direction of Research, Hospital Infantil de México Federico Gómez (HIMFG), Torre de Hemato-Oncología e Investigación, National Health Institute, Dr. Márquez, No. 162, Col. Doctores, Del. Cuauhtémoc, C.P. 06720, México, DF, Mexico. juan.gardunoe@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Juan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Garduño-Espinosa
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D003657:Decision Making; D004521:Educational Measurement; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine / Q000193:education*; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D007396:Internship and Residency; D008297:Male; D008505:Medical Staff, Hospital / Q000193:education* / Q000523:psychology*; D008800:Mexico; D012649:Self Concept
keywords: Evidence-based medicine; Knowledge; Self-perception