Barriers against incorporating evidence-based practice in physical therapy in Colombia: current state and factors associated.

Robinson Ramírez-Vélez,Jorge Enrique Correa-Bautista,Montserrat Girabent-Farrés,M Caridad Bagur-Calafat

doi:10.1186/s12909-015-0502-3

Robinson Ramírez-Vélez, Jorge Enrique Correa-Bautista + Show 2 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1186/s12909-015-0502-3

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Abstract

BackgroundEvidence-based practice (EBP) has been widely implemented in differing areas of physiotherapy. Nevertheless, few studies have investigated EBP-related barriers amongst Latin-American physical therapists working in primary care. The primary objective of this study was to describe the current state concerning perceived barriers engagement in EBP among physical therapy in Colombia. A secondary objective was to identify factors associated with barriers to implementation EBP.MethodsA cross-sectional online survey was conducted. The study involved physical therapists working in public and private hospital who were contacted through professional networks (Email, Facebook®, ResearchGate® and Linked-In®) and invited to participate. Multiple logistic regression (MLR) and multiple correspondence analysis (MCA) were used for examining factors associated with perceived barriers to including EBP in their work.ResultsThe final sample size was 1064 (77.2 % female). Forty-one percent of the respondents indicated that a “lack of research skills” was the most important barrier to evidence being used in practice. MLR analysis suggested that several variables were associated with perceived barriers to including EBP: i.e. hours of work per week, current main role in therapy center and undergraduate degree. The MCA model established two groups of similarities regarding the different barriers; the "lack of understanding of statistical analysis", "insufficient time" and "understanding of the English in which articles are written" barriers were weighted more heavily regarding in the first group (the second factor on MCA) and the rest barriers on the second group (first factor on the MCA).ConclusionsAlthough most physiotherapists had a positive opinion regarding EBP, they considered that they needed to improve their knowledge, skills and attitudes towards EBP. Initiatives to advance EBP in Colombia with no academic or research tradition should primarily target practitioner-level factors.

Highlights

Evidence-based practice (EBP) has been widely implemented in differing areas of physiotherapy
Regarding physiotherapy (PT), there is growing acceptance of an EBP-based approach which is referred to hereinafter as evidence-based physical therapy (EBPT) [3]
Most research has been focused on the use of evidence including a critical review of studies and scientific literature in clinical practice [7]. In countries such as Australia [8], Spain [9], the United States [10], Colombia [11, 12] and the United Kingdom [13] the use of EBP, its teaching and evaluation in clinical practice has been included in educational curricula

Summary

Introduction

Evidence-based practice (EBP) has been widely implemented in differing areas of physiotherapy. The primary objective of this study was to describe the current state concerning perceived barriers engagement in EBP among physical therapy in Colombia. Most research has been focused on the use of evidence including a critical review of studies and scientific literature in clinical practice [7]. In countries such as Australia [8], Spain [9], the United States [10], Colombia [11, 12] and the United Kingdom [13] the use of EBP, its teaching and evaluation in clinical practice has been included in educational curricula

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