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Internet access, awareness and utilization of web‐based evidence: A survey of Australian, New Zealand and Singaporean radiation oncology registrars *
Author(s) -
WONG Karen,
VENESS Michael J
Publication year - 2005
Publication title -
asia‐pacific journal of clinical oncology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.73
H-Index - 29
eISSN - 1743-7563
pISSN - 1743-7555
DOI - 10.1111/j.1743-7563.2005.00033.x
Subject(s) - medicine , critical appraisal , cochrane library , accreditation , radiation oncology , the internet , family medicine , medline , medical education , alternative medicine , meta analysis , world wide web , radiation therapy , pathology , computer science , political science , law
Background: Awareness of up‐to‐date published evidence is important in order to optimize patient care and outcome. We report on the utilization and awareness of pre‐appraised web‐based evidence amongst accredited radiation oncology registrars in Australia, New Zealand (ANZ) and Singapore. Methods: In 2003, a postal survey was sent to all accredited radiation oncology registrars in ANZ and Singapore. The aims of this study were to ascertain: the extent of previous training in literature searching and critical appraisal, the extent of Internet access, and the current awareness and utilization of medical databases, including pre‐appraised web‐based evidence available at the Cochrane Library and the related Cancer Library. Results: Sixty‐nine of 90 registrars responded (77% response rate). Fifty‐four percent of respondents had previously undertaken some form of training related to literature searching or critical appraisal. The majority (67%) felt confident in performing a literature search, although 81% indicated interest in obtaining further training. Most (68%) reported accessing web‐based evidence for literature searching in the previous week and 91% did so in the previous month. Nearly all respondents (90%) accessed web‐based evidence at work. Almost all (94%) were aware of the Cochrane Library with 49% of respondents having used it. Sixty‐seven percent were aware of the Cancer Library. In 2000, a survey of radiation oncologists and registrars on evidence‐based medicine revealed only 68% of registrars were aware of, and only 30% had used, the Cochrane Library. Conclusion: The findings from this survey reveal almost universal access to the Internet and use of web‐based evidence amongst radiation oncology registrars in ANZ and Singapore. Since 2000, there has been a marked increase in awareness and utilization of the Cochrane Library with a majority also aware of the Cancer Library.