Gywali M, Sucheta P S, Prabhu C and Aaron P
Accepted Abstracts: J Neurol Neurophysiol
Background:The physiotherapy profession has been undergoing a period of change and has been encouraged to prove the effectiveness of clinical interventions by scientific evidence. This study was therefore designed to describe the current knowledge of physiotherapists on stroke rehabilitation in India to evidence-based practice (EBP) and to know the relationship between these knowledge and practice. Objective: To determine the current EBP of physiotherapists on stroke rehabilitation in India. Method: Exploratory cross sectional survey questionnaire was send via email to 500 Physiotherapists working with stroke patient for more than 3 years in hospitals in India. A period of six week for completion was given in an attempt to ensure good response rates. If no response obtained within this period, two subsequent reminders were sent with a time gap of six week for first and four for the second. Results: Response rate in our study was poor (46.1%). 16.3% used evidence based practice poorly, 74.5% used evidence based practice moderately and 9.1% used evidence based practice well. Qualification had significant impact on the use of evidence based approach. PhD used evidence based approach properly than BPT and MPT. Physiotherapist working in different set up was statistically significant. Those working in acute care and rehabilitation centre (42.15% and 37.9% respectively) used evidence based practice poorly compared to outpatient (9.4%). Evidence based practice was not associated with different age and work experience. Conclusion: The study showed that there is significant lack of use of evidence based practice among physiotherapists of India. When compared among different age group, qualification, work experience and work set up qualification and work set up of physiotherapist was found statistically significant.
