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Factors Influencing Information Seeking by Physical Therapists Providing Stroke Management

N.M. Salbach, PhD, MSc, BScPT, BSc (Physiology), is Assistant Professor, Department of Physical Therapy, University of Toronto, 160-500 University Ave, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5G 1V7.
S.J.T. Guilcher, MSc, MScPT, BSc, is a PhD candidate, Department of Health, Policy, Management, and Evaluation, University of Toronto.
S.B. Jaglal, PhD, MSc, BSc, is Associate Professor, Department of Physical Therapy, University of Toronto.
D.A. Davis, MD, FCFP, CCFP, FRCPC (hon), is Senior Director, Continuing Education & Performance Improvement, Association of American Medical Colleges, Washington, DC.

Address all correspondence to Dr Salbach at: nancy.salbach{at}utoronto.ca

Background: 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.

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