Awareness, attitudes, and knowledge of Palestinian doctors about evidence-based medicine: a cross-sectional survey

Background Evidence-based medicine (EBM) is an effective strategy to integrate evidence into decision-making alongside patients’ values and clinical expertise. The main aim of this study was to evaluate the awareness, knowledge, and attitudes of Palestinian physicians about EBM. Methods This was a cross-sectional study, in which data were collected between August and November, 2014, using a web-based, 20-item questionnaire adapted from McColl and colleagues to assess awareness of, attitudes to, and knowledge about EBM. We used email and social media to survey Palestinian doctors working in health centres affiliated with the Ministry of Health, the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), academic, and private sectors. Findings Of 135 physicians who completed the questionnaire, the majority were men (116; 86%), younger than 30 years old (104; 77%), resident