Gianni Lixi, ASSL Sanluri, Italy

Can you describe your role in the organization?

I am a Medical Director responsible for the Anal Pathophysiology clinic at ASSL Sanluri.

In your daily work, what are the most important reasons for wanting to access clinical evidence-based information?

In clinical practice, it is important to have high levels of recommendation of evidence to support the research, as opposed to anecdotal or prospective literature as this is unfounded. It’s also important to have high levels of this evidence-based research to ensure you have the best information to hand.

From your point of view, what are the greater advantages of using ClinicalKey?

In the absence of high levels of recommendation-based indices, therefore with little evidence, as often happens when you can’t have randomized trials, even for clinical reasons, it is important to try and extrapolate information where possible, even with a lower index of evidence and/or recommendation. ClinicalKey allows you access to a wide range of literature and content that allows you to navigate your way around published scientific evidence.

Do you think ClinicalKey has contributed to improving your decision-making? In which way and in which areas?

Yes, especially in areas of my expertise, such as gastroenterological surgery and anal pathophysiology.

How has dealing with a health emergency such as COVID-19 changed the way you practice? Has ClinicalKey been helpful in this?

This serious experience has called into question some preconceptions and it has confirmed to me that the most up-to-date information is often just one click away!

How has using ClinicalKey changed the way you work? Can you give us an example of this for you and your patients?

It hasn’t changed but certainly improved since I started using ClinicalKey, which I use together with other research engines that complement each other. I can educate myself faster and therefore prepare for scientific jobs faster, compatible with clinical practice as I still have to carry on with my surgery. As for the benefit for the patient, although the use of ClinicalKey does not have direct changes in my clinical practice, it is certainly useful to know how to transfer ideas to the patient that I’ve acquired using this tool in order to increase confidence in the attending physician.

Sharing the up-to-date sources with the patient gives them trust that they are receiving adequately informed therapies from their clinician.