EBP Confidence and Behavior Throughout PT Edu

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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This study aimed to describe changes in EBP confidence and behavior of students from four physical therapy education programs throughout their curriculum using the Evidence-Based Practice Confidence (EPIC) Scale and the Evidence-Based Practice Implementation Scale (EBPIS).

Detailed Description
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Introduction Evidence-based practice (EBP) is a foundational process taught in health professional education, yet it is unclear when EBP confidence and skills are obtained. Review of Literature Increases in EBP confidence and behaviors from the start of physical therapy programs to post graduation have been reported in studies that evaluated a single program or used non-valid questionnaires. This study aimed to describe changes in EBP confidence and behavior of students from four physical therapy education programs throughout their curriculum. Subjects Two hundred sixty-nine physical therapy students were recruited across 4 PT programs (3 in US and 1 in Canada). Methods Students completed the Evidence-Based Practice Confidence (EPIC) Scale and the Evidence-Based Practice Implementation Scale (EBPIS) at 6 timepoints: start of the program, prior to first clinical experience, after first clinical experience, at the end of classroom instruction, graduation, and one year post. Medians (Mdn) and 25th and 75th percentiles (P25, P75) were calculated for 42 (23.2%) students with complete data across all timepoints. Change between timepoints was assessed using Friedman's test and Wilcoxon signed rank test with a Bonferroni correction for post hoc analysis.

Official Title
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Evidence-based Practice Confidence and Behavior Throughout the Curriculum of Four Physical Therapy Education Programs: A Longitudinal Study

Conditions
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Evidence Based Practice, Physical Therapy, Education

Intervention / Treatment
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* Behavioral: Education


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: students enrolled in the 4 selected physical therapy programs Exclusion Criteria: -
Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| DPT A<br>Students from University A received their typical evidence based practice education over 3 years. | Behavioral: Education<br>* This was an observational study of changes in evidence based confidence and behavior across 4 physical therapy programs. Students received their typical physical therapy education and we measured changes in evidence based practice confidence and behaviors across programs throughout the curriculum.<br>|
| DPT B<br>Students from University B received their typical evidence based practice education over 3 years. | Behavioral: Education<br>* This was an observational study of changes in evidence based confidence and behavior across 4 physical therapy programs. Students received their typical physical therapy education and we measured changes in evidence based practice confidence and behaviors across programs throughout the curriculum.<br>|
| DPT C<br>Students from University C received their typical evidence based practice education over 3 years. | Behavioral: Education<br>* This was an observational study of changes in evidence based confidence and behavior across 4 physical therapy programs. Students received their typical physical therapy education and we measured changes in evidence based practice confidence and behaviors across programs throughout the curriculum.<br>|
| MSPT<br>Students from University D received their typical evidence based practice education over 2 years. | Behavioral: Education<br>* This was an observational study of changes in evidence based confidence and behavior across 4 physical therapy programs. Students received their typical physical therapy education and we measured changes in evidence based practice confidence and behaviors across programs throughout the curriculum.<br>|

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Evidence Based Practice Confidence | 10 item questionnaire | 4 years | 
| Evidence Based Practice Behavior | 18 item questionnaire | 3 years |