Factors influencing attitudes toward, education, skills, barriers, and application of evidence-based practice among physiotherapists in South Korea

Abstract

IntroductionThis study aimed to identify whether sociodemographic factors of physiotherapists had a significant effect on attitudes toward, education, skills, barriers to, and clinical applications of evidence-based practice (EBP) in South Korea.MethodsA questionnaire-based survey was conducted among 971 physiotherapists working in the clinical field. The survey was performed online by using a Google form.ResultsAmong the sociodemographic characteristics, age, educational background, and working experience had a significant effect on EBP attitude, education, and skills, while age, educational background, type of facility, patients per day, and number of physiotherapists at the facility had a significant effect on the EBP barrier. In addition, socio-demographic factors such as gender, age, and educational background exerted a significant impact on EBP clinical application.ConclusionsThese findings suggest that sociodemographic factors of physiotherapists can influence the EBP attitudes, education, skills, barriers, and clinical applications. Therefore, it is necessary to develop various educational programmes that deal with EBP components and procedures in physiotherapy. In addition, extensive support and resources from institutions may help to improve the quality of physiotherapy in health care and medical fields.