Evidence based practice: a survey of physiotherapists' current practice

Area of Science:

• Physiotherapy
• Evidence-Based Practice Research

Background:

• Evidence-based practice (EBP) is increasingly vital in physiotherapy for patient care.
• Understanding current EBP adoption among Australian physiotherapists is essential.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate Australian physiotherapists' self-reported EBP practice, skills, and knowledge.
• To examine EBP differences based on graduate experience, training levels, and practice settings (private vs. hospital).

Main Methods:

• A survey was distributed to 230 physiotherapists in hospital and private practice settings.
• 124 surveys were completed and returned for analysis.

Main Results:

• While most physiotherapists read research, database searching and critical appraisal rates were low.
• Recent graduates and those with higher training reported better EBP skills and knowledge.
• No significant differences in EBP skills or practice frequency were found between private and hospital settings.

Conclusions:

• Physiotherapists generally hold positive attitudes towards EBP.
• Key barriers include time constraints, access to summarized evidence, journal access, and research evaluation skills.
• Addressing these barriers is critical for advancing EBP in physiotherapy.