NEUROREHABILITATION, CLINICAL PRACTICE AND EVIDENCE BASED PRACTICE IN SPANISH PHYSIOTHERAPITS: A TRANSVERSAL STUDY

Abstract

 Introduction: evidence-based practice (EBP) is considered the gold standard of the health care delivery. It integrates individual clinical experience with the best available scientific evidence and the patient's needs and preferences in the practice to increase efficacy and patient care and to improve outcomes and decision making. Objectives: the purpose is to know the current Spanish situation of neurorehabilitation, clinical practice (CP) and EBP in the field of Physiotherapy. Material and method: This is a cross-sectional study which consists of an anonymous, voluntary and confidential questionnaire with 4 blocks of questions (personal data, professional data, neurorehabilitation and EBP). It was applied to a total of 734 physiotherapists in Spain with a mode range of 30-39 years old. Results: physiotherapists with master’s degree (70.09 %; p = 0.043) and male ones (74.55 %, p = 0.008) use the EBP more often; however, those with more experience didn’t show a greater use (p = 0.400). Neither the workday (p = 0.404) nor the professionals with specialization (p = 0.954) read more literature. Conclusion: The majority of the participants have a positive attitude towards the EBP, showing interest and awareness of their need and utility. Most of them use EBP as a support in their CP. However, the main barrier is the lack of time.