English abstract
abstract: Objectives: A perception exists that clinicians in Oman are reluctant to adopt evidence-based
practice (EBP). This pilot study was undertaken to study the feasibility of using EBP pathways at the point of care in
otorhinolaryngology head and neck surgery. The ultimate aim was to facilitate EBP with the probability of developing
a new system for implementing research findings/translational research at the clinical point of care. Methods: A
cross-sectional prospective questionnaire pilot survey of clinicians at Sultan Qaboos University Hospital (SQUH),
Oman, a tertiary care medical centre, was undertaken. Respondents included 135 physicians and surgeons with
between 3 months and 25 years of clinical experience and included personnel ranging from interns to senior
consultants, in areas ranging from primary care to specialist care. Results: Of those polled, 90% (95% confidence
interval (CI) 85–95%) either strongly agreed or agreed that evidence-based practice protocols (EBPP) could help in
decision making. A total of 87.4% of participants (95% CI 81.8–93%) either strongly agreed or agreed that EBPPs
can improve clinical outcomes; 91.8% of participants (95% CI 87.2–96.4%) would use and apply EBPP in day-to-day
care if they were available at the point of care and embedded in the hospital information system. Conclusions: The
perception that clinicians at SQUH are reluctant to adopt EBP is incorrect. The introduction of EBP pathways is
very feasible at the primary care level. Institutional support for embedding EBP in hospital information systems is
needed as well as further outcome research to assess the improvement in quality of care.
