Policy statement: Evidence-based practice

The World Confederation for Physical Therapy (WCPT) believes that physical therapists have a responsibility to ensure that the management of patients/clients, carers and communities is based on the best available evidence. They also have a responsibility not to use techniques and technologies that have been shown to be ineffective or unsafe.

Evidence should be integrated with clinical experience, taking into consideration beliefs, values and the cultural context of the local environment, as well as patient/client preferences.

Evidence-based practice (EBP): An approach to practice wherein health professionals use the best available evidence from systematic research, integrating it with clinical expertise to make clinical decisions for service users, who may be individual patients/clients, carers and communities/populations. EBP values, enhances and builds on clinical expertise, knowledge of disease mechanisms, and pathophysiology. It involves complex and conscientious decision-making based not only on the best available evidence but also on patient/client characteristics, situations, and preferences. It recognises that health services are individualised and ever changing and involves uncertainties and probabilities.

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(EBP) is more easily achievable in environments that embrace and promote it.