Article

Searching and reading the research literature are essential
activities for enhancing the use of research and optimizing the quality of
physical therapist practice. OBJECTIVES: The objectives of this study were to
identify practitioner, organization, and research characteristics that are
associated with searching or reading the research literature among physical
therapists involved in stroke management. DESIGN: A cross-sectional study design
was used. METHODS: A survey questionnaire was mailed to 1,155 physical therapists
in neurological practice in Ontario, Canada. Therapists who treated people with
stroke were eligible to participate. RESULTS: Of the 334 eligible respondents,
270 (80.8%) completed a questionnaire. Among participants with complete data,
37.7% of 265 participants conducted online literature searches and 73.3% of 266
participants read the research literature 2 or more times in a typical month. The
following factors were associated with conducting online literature searches 2 or
more times in a typical month: participation in research, self-efficacy for
implementing evidence-based practice (EBP), being male, perceived facility
support of research use, and Internet access to bibliographic databases at work.
The following factors were associated with reading the literature 2 or more times
in a typical month: participation in research, EBP self-efficacy, membership in a
professional organization, perceived facility support of research use, and
positive perceptions about the usefulness of the research literature and the
relevance of walking interventions evaluated in the stroke rehabilitation
research literature. A positive association between searching and reading was
observed (odds ratio=16.5, 95% confidence interval=5.8-47.1). LIMITATIONS: The
cross-sectional design limited inferences of causality. CONCLUSION: Despite a low
frequency of searching, the majority of the participating therapists acquired and
read the research literature on a monthly basis. Online searching and reading are
closely linked behaviors. Modifiable practitioner characteristics, including
self-efficacy for implementing EBP and participation in research, appear to be
key determinants of EBP.

Langue : ANGLAIS