Knowledge and Application of Evidence-Based Medicine Among Medical Officers at General Hospitals in Bauchi State

Background: Evidence-based medicine is a fundamental pillar of contemporary clinical practice, enabling practitioners to provide care grounded in the best available research. This study assesses the knowledge and application of evidence-based medicine among medical officers at general hospitals in Bauchi State, North East geopolitical zone. Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive study enrolled 100 medical officers through total enumeration at eight general hospitals. A validated evidence-based medicine questionnaire assessed knowledge of key concepts, clinical appraisal skills, and application in practice. Results: Overall EBM knowledge was low to moderate. Ability to formulate focused clinical questions using the PICO framework was particularly weak. Barriers to EBM application included limited internet access for literature searching, time constraints, and inadequate institutional journal subscriptions. Senior medical officers and those with postgraduate qualifications demonstrated significantly higher EBM scores. Conclusion: Evidence-based medicine application among medical officers in Bauchi State is constrained by knowledge gaps and structural barriers. Family medicine training programmes should embed EBM skills from residency through clinical audit activities and critically appraised topic presentations. Keywords: evidence-based medicine, medical officers, Bauchi State, clinical practice, PICO