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Zeedia Y1, Elessi K2
1Self-Employed, Gaza, Palestine, 2Islamic University of Gaza, Faculty of Medicine, Gaza, Palestine
Background: Evidence based physical therapy (EBPT) is a growing competency among physical therapists (PTs) all over the world. It enables them to provide best care based on research evidence, therapists experience and patient preferences. However, there is noticeable dearth of information on this competency among PTs in Gaza governorates.
Purpose: To explore the level of knowledge, attitudes and practices among PTs regarding EBPT in Gaza governorates, and to evaluate the association between those three variables and selected demographic characteristics, in particular, age of therapist, PT educational degree, years of experience, PT position, the number of PT articles read by PT per month, and PTs ability to access to PT search tools from work location.
Methods: The researcher used a self-administered questionnaire and interview protocol as data collection tools, in this regard, 245 PT had completed the questionnaire by response rate of 97.6%. And a PT who works as a head of PT entry level program in Gaza was interviewed. Using SPSS software, the research recruited t-test and one-way ANOVA to draw results from questionnaire data, and open coding thematic analysis to conclude interview main results. However, Cronbach's alpha score was 0.737 for pilot sample and 0.900 for full study sample.
Results: The results indicated PTs moderate knowledge, positive attitudes and high level of practice regarding EBPT, cumulative percentages were 68% for knowledge and 74% for both knowledge and practice. Inferential statistics demonstrated that full time PTs, PTs whom read 2 to 5 PT article per month, master and doctorate holders in PT and PTs whom perceived ability to access to PT search tools from their work location scored better level of knowledge, positive attitudes and higher level of practice regarding EBPT than respondents who missed those characteristics.
On the other hand, therapists age, years of experience and attaining diploma in PT before bachelor's degree presented non-significant relationships. However, therapists realized that limited time and minor ability to interpret statistical analysis as major barriers to EBPT practice.
EBPT is neither included at theoretical part of PT curriculum at PT entry level programs in Gaza. PTs usually learn about this competency during their study and practice it after graduation. Moreover, the therapists perceived low agreement on that PT employers support EBPT practice.
Conclusion(s): PTs knowledge, attitudes and practices regarding EBPT in Gaza would be much better in case they had chance to access to PT search tools from their work location, and if they enrolled to PT special courses andor PT post graduate programs, however, PT employers have major role to enable EBPT environment, where more efforts should be paid to strength PTs capacity in interpretation of PT research results.
Implications: This study can work as a starting point to show the decision makers in PT entry levels programs and PT employers about the need to introduce the EBPT in their work/study places.
Keywords: Physical therapist, Gaza, Evidence based Physical therapy
Funding acknowledgements: No funds were allocated for this study
Purpose: To explore the level of knowledge, attitudes and practices among PTs regarding EBPT in Gaza governorates, and to evaluate the association between those three variables and selected demographic characteristics, in particular, age of therapist, PT educational degree, years of experience, PT position, the number of PT articles read by PT per month, and PTs ability to access to PT search tools from work location.
Methods: The researcher used a self-administered questionnaire and interview protocol as data collection tools, in this regard, 245 PT had completed the questionnaire by response rate of 97.6%. And a PT who works as a head of PT entry level program in Gaza was interviewed. Using SPSS software, the research recruited t-test and one-way ANOVA to draw results from questionnaire data, and open coding thematic analysis to conclude interview main results. However, Cronbach's alpha score was 0.737 for pilot sample and 0.900 for full study sample.
Results: The results indicated PTs moderate knowledge, positive attitudes and high level of practice regarding EBPT, cumulative percentages were 68% for knowledge and 74% for both knowledge and practice. Inferential statistics demonstrated that full time PTs, PTs whom read 2 to 5 PT article per month, master and doctorate holders in PT and PTs whom perceived ability to access to PT search tools from their work location scored better level of knowledge, positive attitudes and higher level of practice regarding EBPT than respondents who missed those characteristics.
On the other hand, therapists age, years of experience and attaining diploma in PT before bachelor's degree presented non-significant relationships. However, therapists realized that limited time and minor ability to interpret statistical analysis as major barriers to EBPT practice.
EBPT is neither included at theoretical part of PT curriculum at PT entry level programs in Gaza. PTs usually learn about this competency during their study and practice it after graduation. Moreover, the therapists perceived low agreement on that PT employers support EBPT practice.
Conclusion(s): PTs knowledge, attitudes and practices regarding EBPT in Gaza would be much better in case they had chance to access to PT search tools from their work location, and if they enrolled to PT special courses andor PT post graduate programs, however, PT employers have major role to enable EBPT environment, where more efforts should be paid to strength PTs capacity in interpretation of PT research results.
Implications: This study can work as a starting point to show the decision makers in PT entry levels programs and PT employers about the need to introduce the EBPT in their work/study places.
Keywords: Physical therapist, Gaza, Evidence based Physical therapy
Funding acknowledgements: No funds were allocated for this study
Topic: Research methodology & knowledge translation; Professional issues
Ethics approval required: Yes
Institution: Ministry of Health
Ethics committee: Directorate general of human resources development
Ethics number: PHRC/HC/299/17
All authors, affiliations and abstracts have been published as submitted.
