Evidence-based care in Iran: A Systematic Review

Evidence-based care is defined as combining research findings with caring skills. The current study aimed at a systematic review of obstructions, facilitators, awareness, knowledge, function, perception, and results of interventions in evidence-based care in Iran. In the present survey different data base searching methods and manual search were applied using the key words of “evidence-based”, “evidence-based medical”, “evidence-based nursing”, “evidence-based practice”, “evidence-based care”, “evidence-based activity”, “evidence-based education”, “applying research results”, “research application”, and their combinations with the key words of “obstructions”, “facilitators”, “awareness”, “knowledge”,” function”, “perception”, and” Iran”; and their English synonyms in data bases of PubMed, Medlib, Magiran, SID, CINAHL, Google Scholar, and Iranmedex to collect articles. Out of 819 articles, finally 25articls were used for this study. The most important barriers of evidence-based practice were lack of facilities, lack of time, and lack of expertise in research methods. The rate of familiarity with evidence-based practice specific terms was low (44.22%). Reference books were considered as the most important information sources. Awareness, knowledge, function, and usage of evidence-based practice was low (<50%). Main concepts of evidence-based practice from providers’ point of views were scientific and professional care, patient-oriented and considering service quality. Interventional studies had a positive effect on the improvement of evidence-based practice. Weak knowledge, weak attitude, and time shortage. are among the most significant barriers of evidence-based care in Iran. These problems require more accurate planning and more favorable policies on the part of medical science authorities.