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Akinyemi, Oluwaseun O., Martineau, Tim 
ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4833-3149 and Tharyan, Prathap
(2015)
'Is the practice of public or private sector doctors more evidence-based? A qualitative study from Vellore, India'. International Journal of Evidence-Based Healthcare, Vol 13, Issue 2, pp. 66-76.
Abstract
Aim
The literature on the use of evidence-based practice is sparse, both in the public and private sectors in middle-and low-income countries, and the present literature shows that physician understanding and use of evidence-based practice is poor. The study aimed to explore the perception of medical practitioners in the private for-profit, private not-for-profit and government sectors in Vellore, India, on evidence-based practice, in order to explain the factors affecting the use of evidence-based practice among the practitioners and to inform local policy and management decisions for improvement in quality of care.
Methods
Qualitative methodology was employed in the study. Sixteen in-depth and two key informant interviews were carried out with medical practitioners selected by purposive sampling in the private for-profit, private not-for-profit and government sectors. The interviews explored participants’ knowledge of evidence-based practice, factors affecting its use and possible ways of improving the use of evidence-based practice among physicians in all the health sectors. Data from the in-depth and key informant interviews were analyzed with the NVIVO (version 8) software package using the framework approach.
Results
Although most practitioners interviewed have heard of evidence-based practice, knowledge about evidence-based practice seems inadequate. However, doctors in the private not-for-profit sector seem to be more familiar with the concept of evidence-based practice. Also, practitioners in the private not-for profit sector appear to use medical evidence more in their practices compared to government practitioners or doctors in the private for-profit sector. Perceived factors affecting physician use of evidence-based practice include lack of personal time for literature appraisal as a result of high case load, weak regulatory system, pressure from patients, caregivers and pharmaceutical companies, as well as financial considerations. Opinions of the respondents are that use of evidence-based practice is mostly found among practitioners in the private not-for-profit health sector.
Conclusion
Better training in evidence-based practice, improved regulatory system and greater collaboration between the public, private for-profit and private not-for-profit sectors with regards to training in evidence-based practice – literature search and critical appraisal skills – were suggested as needed to improve the present situation.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Subjects: | W General Medicine. Health Professions > W 21 Medicine as a profession. WA Public Health > WA 20.5 Research (General) WA Public Health > WA 30 Socioeconomic factors in public health (General) |
| Faculty: Department: | Clinical Sciences & International Health > International Public Health Department |
| Digital Object Identifer (DOI): | https://doi.org/10.1097/XEB.0000000000000042 |
| Depositing User: | Lynn Roberts-Maloney |
| Date Deposited: | 23 Jul 2015 15:05 |
| Last Modified: | 13 Sep 2019 10:12 |
| URI: | https://archive.lstmed.ac.uk/id/eprint/5250 |
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