HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Submit a response Alert me when this article is cited Alert me when Rapid Responses are posted Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Jette, D. U Articles by Volk, D. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Jette, D. U Articles by Volk, D.

Evidence-Based Practice: Beliefs, Attitudes, Knowledge, and Behaviors of Physical Therapists

DU Jette, PT, DSc, is Professor and Program Director, Physical Therapy Program, Simmons College, 300 The Fenway, Boston, MA 02115 (USA) (diane.jette{at}simmons.edu).
K Bacon, PT, DPT, is Physical Therapist, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, Mass
C Batty, PT, DPT, is Physical Therapist, Bellingham Physical Therapy, Bellingham, Wash
M Carlson, PT, is a self-employed physical therapist, Watertown, Mass
A Ferland, PT, DPT, is Physical Therapist, Physician's Physical Therapy, Phoenix, Ariz
RD Hemingway, PT, DPT, is Physical Therapist, Cambridge Health Alliance at Somerville Hospital, Somerville, Mass
JC Hill, PT, DPT, is Physical Therapist, HealthSouth Braintree Rehabilitation Center, Harvard, Mass
L Olgivie, PT, DPT, is Physical Therapist, Shaughnessy-Kaplan Rehabilitation Hospital, Salem, Mass
D Volk, PT, DPT, is Physical Therapist, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Mass

Address all correspondence to Dr Jette

Background and Purpose. Little research has been done regarding the attitudes and behaviors of physical therapists relative to the use of evidence in practice. The purposes of this study were to describe the beliefs, attitudes, knowledge, and behaviors of physical therapist members of the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) as they relate to evidence-based practice (EBP) and to generate hypotheses about the relationship between these attributes and personal and practice characteristics of the respondents. Methods. A survey of a random sample of physical therapist members of APTA resulted in a 48.8% return rate and a sample of 488 that was fairly representative of the national membership. Participants completed a questionnaire designed to determine beliefs, attitudes, knowledge, and behaviors regarding EBP, as well as demographic information about themselves and their practice settings. Responses were summarized for each item, and logistic regression analyses were used to examine relationships among variables. Results. Respondents agreed that the use of evidence in practice was necessary, that the literature was helpful in their practices, and that quality of patient care was better when evidence was used. Training, familiarity with and confidence in search strategies, use of databases, and critical appraisal tended to be associated with younger therapists with fewer years since they were licensed. Seventeen percent of the respondents stated they read fewer than 2 articles in a typical month, and one quarter of the respondents stated they used literature in their clinical decision making less than twice per month. The majority of the respondents had access to online information, although more had access at home than at work. According to the respondents, the primary barrier to implementing EBP was lack of time. Discussion and Conclusion. Physical therapists stated they had a positive attitude about EBP and were interested in learning or improving the skills necessary to implement EBP. They noted that they needed to increase the use of evidence in their daily practice.

Key Words: Evidence-based practice • Physical therapy • Professional role behaviors

This article has been cited by other articles:

				R. L Craik and C. Maher Still "Not Satisfied" ... Yet Physical Therapy, April 1, 2008; 88(4): 423 - 425. [Full Text] [PDF]

				P. F Beattie and R. M Nelson Evaluating Research Studies That Address Prognosis for Patients Receiving Physical Therapy Care: A Clinical Update Physical Therapy, November 1, 2007; 87(11): 1527 - 1535. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				N. M Salbach and N. Korner-Bitensky Author Response Physical Therapy, October 1, 2007; 87(10): 1305 - 1306. [Full Text] [PDF]

				N. M Salbach, S. B Jaglal, N. Korner-Bitensky, S. Rappolt, and D. Davis Practitioner and Organizational Barriers to Evidence-based Practice of Physical Therapists for People With Stroke Physical Therapy, October 1, 2007; 87(10): 1284 - 1303. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				C. Dumoulin, N. Korner-Bitensky, and C. Tannenbaum Urinary Incontinence After Stroke: Identification, Assessment, and Intervention by Rehabilitation Professionals in Canada Stroke, October 1, 2007; 38(10): 2745 - 2751. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				T. Shaneyfelt, K. D. Baum, D. Bell, D. Feldstein, T. K. Houston, S. Kaatz, C. Whelan, and M. Green Instruments for evaluating education in evidence-based practice: a systematic review. JAMA, September 6, 2006; 296(9): 1116 - 1127. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				B. J. Nail-Chiwetalu and N. B. Ratner Information literacy for speech-language pathologists: a key to evidence-based practice. Lang Speech Hear Serv Sch, July 1, 2006; 37(3): 157 - 167. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				S. Poitras, R. Blais, B. Swaine, and M. Rossignol Management of Work-Related Low Back Pain: A Population-Based Survey of Physical Therapists Physical Therapy, November 1, 2005; 85(11): 1168 - 1181. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				C. G Maher, C. Sherrington, M. Elkins, R. D Herbert, and A. M Moseley Challenges for Evidence-Based Physical Therapy: Accessing and Interpreting High-Quality Evidence on Therapy Physical Therapy, July 1, 2004; 84(7): 644 - 654. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]