Perceptions towards Evidence-Based Decision-Making among Public Health Teachers and Students: a National Survey in Taiwan

Evidence-Based Medicine (EBM) is clinical practice consistent with the current best evidence. It integrates clinical epidemiology, biostatistics, research methods, and informatics into health care. Implementation of EBM mainly involves four sequential steps: first, framing a clear question based on a clinical problem; second, searching for relevant evidence in literature; third, critically appraising the validity of contemporary research; and fourth, applying the findings to clinical decision-making. Systematic reviews are regarded as the most important EBM resource because they are conducted with well-established methodological standards to enroll randomized controlled trials, which is a scientific method that uses an epidemiologically experimental design to gain unbiased treatment results by using objectively collected data and statistical analysis. Implementation of EBM is regarded as core competence to improve healthcare quality. Dissemination of EBM is the mainstream policy of Ministry of Health and Welfare. These years, EBM has been expanded into all healthcare and called evidence-based practice (EBP). All health professionals should apply evidence-based decision-making (EBDM) in the daily practice. Data indicating the extent to which EBDM is used in public health are limited in Taiwan. In addition, the dissemination of evidence-based public health (EBPH) is still lacking. Thus, the current nationwide study aims to verify how public health personnel apply EBPH in their everyday practice. We will conduct a questionnaire survey for public health personnel - including teachers and students. Questionnaires will be distributed to potential participants at the Department of Public Health in 9 universities. Questions will include items in relation to awareness, attitudes, beliefs, knowledge, skills, behaviors, and barriers toward EBPH. Demographic information will be included as well. In addition, an interview for public health experts will be conducted to cover the insufficiency in the questionnaire survey. To our knowledge, this study will be the first survey to verify EBDM among public health teachers and students in Taiwan. The results will provide critical evidence that can be used to guide strategies for improving the effectiveness of EBPH dissemination.