Background: The Cochrane Library is presumably one of the best and most popular databases for evidence based medicine. The question we had in our minds before undertaking this study was to know the actual usage of database if availability is not an issue.

Objectives: To investigate the perceptions about Cochrane Collaboration and systemic reviews in teaching hospitals.

Material and Methods: 50 health care professionals including interns, RMOs, registrars and consultants working at Royal Adelaide Hospital and Queen Elizabeth Hospital, 2 major teaching hospitals situated in Adelaide, Australia were interviewed. The personal interview was conducted with the help of a 15 point questionnaire prepared and conducted by one of the authors.

Results: There was a high level of awareness about the Cochrane Collaboration (88%). 80% of the subjects have used Cochrane Collaboration and systemic reviews at least once. The entire users used the institute library where the database is freely accessible. But frequent use of the database was uncommon and only 50% (20/40) reported using it at least once a month. None of the individuals interviewed reported contributing to the Cochrane Collaboration in any form. Lack of time and lack about the knowledge regarding how to contribute were the most common reasons for the non contribution. About 1/3 (36%) of the individuals lacked any desire to know more about the database or systemic reviews.

Conclusion: Despite free availability of Cochrane database a low level usage of database was seen. Lack of time, non availability of topics of interest and lack of interest were important reasons for the non compliance.