Engagement in Evidence-Based Practice Activities and Thinking by Rehabilitation Therapists: Predictive Factors.
Angela Benfield, Mark V Johnston, Cheryl Miller and 3 others
PMID 41477082WHAT IT FOUND
Rehabilitation therapists rarely search databases or share evidence, but frequently reflect on clinical outcomes.
Engagement in evidence-seeking activities was predicted by feeling job secure, being open to new methods, and holding specialty certifications, rather than by years of experience or facility size.
Key findings
01Therapists reported engaging in critical clinical reasoning activities more frequently than in evidence-informed practice activities, though both were rated as basic competency.
02Perceived job security, openness to new interventions, and specialty certifications were significant independent predictors of engagement in evidence-informed practice.
03Job security and openness predicted critical clinical reasoning, while feedback and awareness of evidence limitations were also associated with this reasoning style.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTsWhat it means for OTsWhat it means for SLPs
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What it does not show
The study used self-report measures, so actual behavior may differ from what therapists reported. The sample was drawn from a single for-profit corporation, which may limit how well the findings apply to nonprofit or academic settings. The study was cross-sectional, so it can identify associations but cannot prove that job security or certifications cause higher engagement. The sample size limited the statistical power, meaning some potential predictors might have been missed.
Declared interests
The investigators have no financial or nonfinancial disclosures to make in relation to this project.
The easy way to misread this
Do not assume that obtaining a clinical doctorate or gaining more years of experience will automatically make you more engaged in evidence-based practice. The study found no significant relationship between education level or years of experience and engagement scores; instead, specialty certifications and workplace attitudes like job security were the stronger predictors.
Summarised by AI from the full paper, without a clinician reviewing it. Check it against the source before it changes what you do. Read it on PubMed →