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Determining where physical therapists get information to support clinical practice decisions
Dennis W Fell1, Judy F Burnham, Jon M Dockery
1Department of Physical Therapy, College of Allied Health Professions, University of South Alabama, Mobile, AL 36688, USA.
Health Information and Libraries Journal
|February 19, 2013
Summary
Physical therapists (PTs) increasingly rely on evidence-based resources like journal articles and databases for clinical decisions. This shift indicates a modern approach to information seeking in physical therapy practice.
Area of Science:
- Clinical Practice
- Information Science
- Evidence-Based Practice
Background:
- Physical therapists (PTs) require up-to-date information to support clinical decision-making.
- Understanding current information-seeking behaviors is crucial for effective knowledge translation in physical therapy.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify the primary information sources utilized by physical therapists in the United States.
- To assess trends in information seeking among physical therapists compared to previous studies.
Main Methods:
- An online survey was distributed to physical therapists across the United States.
- Participants were recruited through professional listservs and electronic newsletters.
Main Results:
- Journal articles were the most frequently used information source, followed by databases such as PubMed.
- The utilization of evidence-based resources was not significantly influenced by years of experience, direct access practice states, or academic degree level (doctoral vs. master's/bachelor's).
Conclusions:
- Physical therapy information seeking has evolved, showing a greater reliance on evidence-based resources compared to 1994.
- This transition highlights a growing commitment to evidence-based practice within the physical therapy profession.
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