AN EMPIRICAL STUDY ON EVIDENCE BASED PRACTICES AMONG PHYSIOTHERAPISTS IN INDIA

Background and Objectives: Evidence-Based Practice (EBP) is measured to be a corner stone of all health care, including physiotherapy. There is an explicit recognition that physiotherapy care should be underpinned by the philosophy of evidence-based practice which brings together best research evidence, clinical expertise, patient ethics values and beliefs and the information from practice contexts. The aim of the study was to find level of knowledge of EBP among physiotherapist practicing in stroke rehabilitation set up in India Method: Study Design: This was a cross sectional study. The sample size of the study was 901. The target population of the study was physiotherapist across India.A literature review based English survey comprised of 40 questions was designed to explore participant?s self-reported beliefs on evidence based practice(EBP) after completion of pilot survey. Data were analysed using SPSS statistical software, version 21.0. Result and conclusion: Therewas a significant different between Indian physiotherapist?s skills in evidence based practice. It is clear that evidence based stroke rehabilitation is more in south India. However, it seems low in North Zone. The education system i.e. Literature of Stroke specific outcome measures in day to day practice, research related to stroke specific outcome measures, study of advance tools and techniques are found to be significant difference among the Zones.