Abstract
Research is a major tool in updating professional knowledge and discovering of new techniques. The relevance ofresearch to Physiotherapy in this era of evidence-based practice cannotbe over-emphasised. This survey was carried out to investigate: a) thelevel of participation of Kuwait based clinical physical therapists (CPTs)in research (b) their research beliefs and (c) factors enhancing or hindering their participation in research.One hundred and five CPTs from seven Ministry of Health (MOH)Hospitals were surveyed, using a 21 - item structured questionnaire.Ninety-six of the 105 questionnaire forms were returned, 87 (90.6%) ofwhich were complete. The results showed that 71 (81.6%) of the participants agreed that CPTs should engage in research and 79 (90.8%) believed that research would enhance practice. While 75 (86.2%) claimed that readingPhysiotherapy journals has enhanced their practice, only 34 (39.1%) had ever participated in any research since qualifying as a basic physiotherapist. Only 6(6.9%) had scientific publications in professional journals and 34(39.1%) were regularly subscribing to professional journals. Five factors were identified as hindrances to research.These were poor library facilities (80.4%), time constraints (86.2%), lack of research funds (74.7%), lack of equip-ment (71.3%) and lack of pre-requisite training in research activities (44.8%).From the results obtained in this survey, it can be inferred that the level of participation of Kuwait - based CPTs inresearch is very low. Thus, implying that clinical observations are not being validated through research. Acquisitionof new knowledge and updating on existing/methods/techniques through the reading of professional Journals is low.
Highlights
Physiotherapy is rapidly evolving as a profession with distinct autonomy, identity and a knowledge base
This study has shown the attitude of Kuwait-based clinical physical therapists (CPTs) towards research, and the level of their participation in research activities
Not all the questionnaire forms distributed to the sampled CPTs were retrieved, the number returned and completed gave a return rate of 93% constituting about one third of the total number of CPTs in all Ministry of Health Hospitals in Kuwait (Office of Physiotherapy Affairs, 2001)
Summary
Physiotherapy is rapidly evolving as a profession with distinct autonomy, identity and a knowledge base. Flourishing research activities are one reason for the observed feeling of autonomy and identity (Crosbie ,2000). Powers and Knapp (1995) have described research as a systematic process of investigation, with the purpose of contributing to the body of knowledge, that would shape and guide academic and / or clinical disciplines. Research can broadly be divided into basic and applied investigations. Basic research is intended to increase the understanding of the course of function being studied, while applied research may be referred to as clinical research or trials which are concerned with applying or gaining knowledge in practice (Currier, 1979). Research leads to revision of accepted conclusions in the light of newly discovered facts. Such findings should change practice (Smeitzer and Hindshaw, 1986).
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