Acceptance of evidence-based reproductive health care among postgraduate specialist trainees in Nigeria

ObjectiveTo assess the perception and practice of evidence-based reproductive health care among Nigerian postgraduate specialist trainee doctors.MethodA questionnaire survey of 326 Nigerian postgraduate specialist trainee doctors involved in reproductive health care was undertaken during training workshops on evidence-based medicine.ResultsMost respondents were familiar with evidence-based medicine (96.6%) and agreed that it would improve patient care (95.1%). Only 38.3% had ever received training on evidence-based medicine. Awareness and utilization of resources for evidence-based medicine were low; only 18.7% and 28.2% had ever used the Cochrane Library or the WHO Reproductive Health Library, respectively. Understanding of technical terms related to evidence-based medicine was poor. Lack of access to evidence was the most common constraint to the practice of evidence-based reproductive health care.ConclusionNigerian postgraduate specialist trainee doctors are positively disposed to evidence-based reproductive health care but their understanding of the principles of evidence-based practice is inadequate.