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Abstract
Background
Evidence‐based practice (EBP) involves integration of the best available evidence from research, the patient's preferences or circumstances, the clinical environment and the health practitioner's expertise. There have been several qualitative studies of EBP in health‐care but none has focused on the profession of optometry. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to assess optometrists' perceptions of EBP in optometry.
Methods
This exploratory qualitative study employed focus group meetings and individual telephone interviews to gauge understanding of and opinions about EBP in a convenience sample of Australian and Saudi Arabian optometrists. Results were summarised in accordance with the Consolidated Criteria for Reporting Qualitative Research (COREQ) checklist. NVivo software was used for qualitative analysis of the results.
Results
Most participants were supportive of EBP; however, their perceptions did not generally reflect a deep understanding of the definition or process of EBP. Participants reported using a combination of low and high level evidence to inform their clinical decisions. In line with findings from other health professions, barriers included lack of time and lack of access to information, while enablers such as education, organisational support and self‐motivation were cited.
Discussion
Our findings suggest a need for better training of optometrists in EBP as well as resources and approaches that support EBP in optometry, such as an EBP database of pre‐appraised evidence and more secondary sources of evidence, such as systematic reviews and critically appraised topics.
Acknowledgments
Funding support for author TA was provided by the Saudi Arabian Ministry of Higher Education. This work was presented at the American Academy of Optometry Annual meeting held in Boston, USA on 12–15 October 2011. We thank Dr Ulrike Stahl and Ms Bassima Aldelaigan for facilitation of the focus group sessions and Dr Kirsten Challinor and Dr Rachel Thompson for their comments on the manuscript.