Evidence-based practice in undergraduate physiotherapy programs in Brazil: A cross-sectional document analysis study

Physiotherapists worldwide are encouraged to integrate evidence-based practice (EBP) to provide safer and effective services. However, for professionals to consolidate this practice, the contact with EBP must begin at the university. In this study, we aimed to map and analyze the distribution of EBP courses and their characteristics in undergraduate physiotherapy programs in Brazil.

This web-based document analysis study analyzed the current curricula of undergraduate physiotherapy programs in Brazil according to their availability on university sites. The identification of curricular components and analysis of EBP course syllabi used evidence-based descriptive terms. A descriptive analysis was used to verify the frequency and the regional distribution of EBP courses.

Of 1033 accredited programs in Brazil, 809 curricula were analyzed. Only 9.4% (76/809) of the analyzed curricula presented EBP courses; the mean duration of courses was 44.3 (SD 13.5) hours. Southeast region had the greatest number of undergraduate programs (46.5%, 376/809), and the north region had a proportionally greater number of EBP courses (24%, 12/50). In addition, 15.6% (10/64) and 8.9% (66/739) of the curricula of public and private institutions, respectively, provided EBP content. Critical appraisal was the most mentioned step among 15 undergraduate programs with complete EBP syllabi.

Most undergraduate physiotherapy programs in Brazil did not offer an EBP course. Also, an unbalanced emphasis on the critical appraisal step was observed. The lack of EBP content and skills in the curricula of Brazilian undergraduate physiotherapy programs may negatively influence the training, decision-making, and clinical practice of physiotherapists. A re-evaluating of the current undergraduate programs and curricula for EBP-based education is needed.