Assessing Factors Affecting Doctors Access to Medical Knowledge at Point-of-Care in the Context of Evidence-Based Medicine

Studies show that despite the abundance of research to inform clinical practice, many patients do not receive Evidence-based healthcare, especially in Low-income countries. This study assessed factors that doctors consider important with respect to therapeutical information and medical knowledge when making decisions about patient treatment in the context of Evidence-based medicine (EBM). EBM emphasizes the importance of integrating patients’ values and current research findings when formulating care strategies to enhance efficiency and reduce medical errors. Following an interpretive paradigm through Information behavior lens, the study utilized interviews and examination of artifacts to gather data from purposively selected participants at a tertiary public hospital in Malawi. Findings revealed significant challenges, including; absence of Hospital-wide information systems, lack of time, high disease burden, insufficient tools, and political factors. There are opportunities however, such as online medical libraries and state-of-the-art medical schools that can contribute to the development and implementation of EBM.