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Advisor(s)
Abstract(s)
Evidence-based practice (EBP) is considered the “holy grail” to manage
patients by health practitioners (such as physical therapists). However, sometimes,
patients are not treated with the best interventions for their condition. Although
studies already explored the facilitators and barriers for this issue, they increase in
the level of importance if the information gathered are context appropriated.
As the profession is relatively new in Portugal, currently little is known about the
implementation of EBP in Portuguese physical therapists context. So, the aim of this
study is to know if the Portuguese physical therapists use an EBP, and collect and
deeper understand the factors, barriers and facilitators associated with EBP.
Methods: This study incorporated a mixed-methods design (quantitative and
qualitative). In an attempt to ensure the correct population sample, a national
professional association e-mail database and the e-mails of past students from
national schools were requested. For the quantitative data it was choose an e-survey,
adapted from the EBP: Beliefs, Attitudes, Knowledge, and Behaviors of Physical
Therapists Portuguese version questionnaire, consisted of 55 close-ended questions.
It was analyzed response frequencies and associations between variables with
logistic regression analyses. For the qualitative data, it was choose to perform
semi-structured interviews in purposefully selected physical therapists to include
different sociodemographic factors (especially those found to be statistically
significant in the logistic regression) and survey responses regarding the physical
therapists’ beliefs, attitudes, knowledge, and behaviors. The interviews were
performed in an online software, where only audio contact was performed.
The audios were anonymized and verbatim transcribed, and the texts explored by the
thematic approach.
Results: From the 277 physical therapists that shown interest in participating in the
study, 193 fully completed the questionnaire and, from those, 10 participated in the
interviews. The Portuguese physical therapists reported positive beliefs, attitudes,
knowledge, and behaviors regarding EBP. Among the physical therapists
characteristics it seems that age (younger therapists), education (participating in
continuing education courses; belonging to practice-orientated organizations; having
a doctorate degree; pursuing a higher academic degree; and being a clinical
instructor), and workplace (working for someone else account; and academic sector)
are the main factors in the Portuguese EBP implementation. The Portuguese physical
therapists, beyond the physical therapists individual characteristics and workplace, also stated that evidence, patients, clinical experience, schools, country and physical
therapy characteristics, may behave as facilitators or barriers when performing an
EBP.
Description
Keywords
Orthopedics Rheumatology Sports Injury Rehabilitation Sports Medicine Evidence-based practice Physical therapy Mix-methods
Citation
Ferreira, Ricardo M.; Martins, Pedro N.; Pimemta, Nuno; Gonçalves, Rui S. (2022). Measuring evidence-based practice in physical therapy: a mix-methods study. Peer J. ISSN 2167-8359. 9, p. 1-32