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Pathways to evidence-based knowledge in orthopaedic surgery: an international survey of AO course participants

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Abstract

The aim of this study was to gain information about how orthopaedic surgeons use evidence-based literature and how this is influenced by their knowledge of evidence-based medicine. We administered a questionnaire to participants at courses of the Association for the Study of Internal Fixation (AO-ASIF) in Davos, Switzerland, in December 2003. Special attention was paid to the surgeons’ educational level, affiliations, and the infrastructure and evidence sources they used. In addition, we tested participants on their knowledge and attitude to evidence-based orthopaedic surgery (EBOS). Of 1,274 course participants, 456 completed the questionnaire. Of 446 respondents, 300 had heard of EBOS, but only 45% could define it correctly. Nearly two thirds identified scientific publications as their main source of scientific knowledge. The respondents’ attitudes to and awareness of EBOS principles was high, but it did not influence their manner of searching for scientific information or their trust in various sources of recommendations.

Résumé

Le but de ce travail était de trouver de l’information sur l’utilisation par les chirurgiens orthopédistes de la littérature basée sur des preuves et comment cela pouvait être influencé par leur connaissance de la médecine basée sur des preuves. Nous avons donné un questionnaire aux participants au Cours de l’Association pour l’Étude de la Fixation Interne (AO-ASIF) à Davos en décembre 2003.Une attention spéciale a été portée au niveau pédagogique des chirurgiens, leurs affiliations, l’infrastructure et les sources de preuves qu’ils ont utilisé. De plus, nous avons testé les participants sur leurs connaissances et leur attitude envers la chirurgie orthopédique basée sur des preuves (EBOS). Sur 1,274 participants au cours, 456 ont complété le questionnaire. Des 446 participants interrogées 300 avaient entendu parler d’EBOS, mais seulement 45% pouvaient le définir correctement. Presque deux tiers des participants interrogés ont identifié les publications scientifiques comme leur principale source de connaissance scientifique. Chez les participants interrogés, la conscience des principes EBOS était haute, mais cela n’a pas influencé leur manière de chercher l’information scientifique ou leur confiance dans les sources de recommandations.

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Correspondence to Sabine Goldhahn.

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Goldhahn, S., Audigé, L., Helfet, D.L. et al. Pathways to evidence-based knowledge in orthopaedic surgery: an international survey of AO course participants. International Orthopaedics (SICOT) 29, 59–64 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00264-004-0617-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00264-004-0617-3

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