ATTITUDE TOWARDS EVIDENCE

BASED PRACTICE AMONG

PHYSIOTHERAPY STUDENT IN
UOC
NAME : SHIVAASANGKAREE KOMARASAMY
STUDENT ID : BPHYSIO 1909-1433
INTRODUCTION
Evidence-based practice (EBP) has Among healthcare disciplines,
become a cornerstone in modern physiotherapy plays a vital role in
The integration of EBP principles
healthcare, guiding practitioners to restoring physical function and
into healthcare education is crucial
make informed clinical decisions improving the quality of life for
to produce competent and patient-
based on the best available individuals with musculoskeletal,
centered professionals
evidence, clinical expertise, and neurological, and cardiopulmonary
patient preferences. conditions.

Attitudes are crucial determinants

of behavior, and positive attitudes
towards EBP can significantly
influence its successful
implementation in clinical practice
once these students enter the
workforce.
Conversely, negative or skeptical
attitudes may hinder the uptake of
evidence-based approaches and
lead to suboptimal patient
outcomes.
BACKGROUND OF STUDY
Evidence-Based Practise (EBP) is an economical strategy for enhancing clinical
care quality and employing only well-researched evidence. Health professions must
adopt EBP principles, particularly physiotherapy. (Beckett CD, Melnyk BM, 2018)

Over the past two decaes, the concept of evidence-based

practise (EBP) has become more significant in physiotherapy
clinical practise. (Bernhardsson S., Larsson, 2013)

In clinical practise, EBP has emerged as the industry standard in

a number of disciplines, including medicine, rehabilitation, and
allied health science. (Cruz J.P., Colet P.C., Alquwez N., 2016)

EBP is described by Sackett et al. as the rational, focused, and deliberate use of the
best current evidence when making clinical decisions pertaining to the care of a
given patient. (Rosenberg W.M., Gray J.M., Haynes R.B., Richardson W.S., 1996)

The Sicily statement on EBP states that clinical decisions

should be based on the most recent, valid, and relevant
research. (Dawes M., Summerskill W., Glasziou P., 2005)
 RATIONALE

Research on attitudes towards EBP can inform

curriculum developers and educators about the
The ultimate goal of healthcare, including physiotherapy,
effectiveness of existing educational approaches.
is to achieve the best possible patient outcomes. EBP is a
Identifying potential gaps or misconceptions in students'
well-established approach that integrates the best
understanding of EBP allows educators to refine
available evidence with clinical expertise and patient
teaching methods and tailor educational strategies that
values to optimize treatment decisions.
promote positive attitudes towards evidence-based
practice.
RESEARCH QUESTION
What is the current level of adherence to evidence-based practice guidelines
among physiotherapy students at the University of Cyberjaya (UOC)?

What are the attitudes of physiotherapy students at UOC towards

incorporating evidence-based practice into their clinical decision-making?

What is the current level of knowledge and understanding of evidence-based

practice among physiotherapy students at the (UOC)?
RESEARCH OBJECTIVE
● To assess the extent to which physiotherapy students at UOC adhere to
evidence-based practice guidelines in their clinical practice.

● To investigate the attitudes of physiotherapy students towards evidence-

based practice and its integration into their clinical decision-making
processes.

● To assess the current level of knowledge of evidence-based practice among

physiotherapy students at UOC.
RESEARCH AIM
● To investigate the attitudes towards evidence-based practice (EBP) among
physiotherapy students and explore the factors influencing these attitudes at
the University of Cyberjaya.
RESEARCH HYPOTHESIS
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
RESEARCH DESIGN

● Cross-sectional study : Quantitative

● Location : university of Cyberjaya (UOC)

RESEARCH POPULATION

● Undergraduate students of physiotherapy from semester 4 till semester 8

SAMPLING METHOD

● Convenience Sampling

SAMPLE SIZE

● 80 undergraduate physiotherapy students from semester 4 till semester 8

RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
➔ CRITERIA
i) Inclusion criteria :
● Undergraduate physiotherapy students
● Students from University of Cyberjaya
● Students who have completed at least one clinical placement/posting

ii) Exclusion criteria :

➔ Any other university students
➔ Physiotherapy students from semester 1 till semester 3
➔ Any other course student whom is not from undergraduate
physiotherapy
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
➔ MODE OF DISTRIBUTION
● The questionnaires will be distributed by using the link “Google Form” to
the representatives of Semester 4 until Semester 8 undergraduate
physiotherapy students. The representative then distributes the questionnaire
to their class group and asked the classmates to fill in the details.

➔ DATA ANALYSIS
RESEARCH INSTRUMENT
● This pool was refined by
experienced healthcare
professionals and face
validity established.
● Cronbach’s ⍺was 0.87 for
the entire questionnaire.
RESEARCH INSTRUMENT
● The EBPQ has been found to be
quick and easy to administer, and
to have good internal reliability as
measured by Cronbach's alpha;
the alpha for the overall
questionnaire is .87 and the three
subscales have alphas of .85
(practice), .79 (attitude), and .91
(knowledge)
(Upton and Upton, 2006).
RESEARCH INSTRUMENT
STUDY PROCEDURE
RESULTS & DISCUSSION
DEMOGRAPHIC DATA
FREQUENCY

There were 80 participants with

SEMESTER 4 a mean age of 6.16 ± 1.409
12; 15% SEMESTER 5
21; 26% years. Most participants were
SEMESTER6 from semester 8 (26.3%),
SEMESTER 7 followed by semester 6 (25%).
16; 20%
SEMESTER8
11; 14%
20; 25%
LEVEL OF PRACTICE IN EBP
45
40
35
30 Present study shows that about
25
Percent

20
15
10
5
0
POOR NEITHER GOOD VERY GOOD EXCELLENT
GOOD NOR
POOR
ATTITUDE TOWARDS EBP

45
40
35
30 There were 80 participants with
25
a mean age of 6.16 ± 1.409
years. Most participants were
Percent

20
15
from semester 8 (26.3%),
followed by semester 6 (25%).
10
5
0
POOR NEITHER GOOD VERY GOOD EXCELLENT
GOOD NOR
POOR
KNOWLEDGE IN EBP

50
45
40
35 There were 80 participants with
30 a mean age of 6.16 ± 1.409
25 years. Most participants were
Percent

20 from semester 8 (26.3%),

15
followed by semester 6 (25%).
10
5
0
POOR NEITHER GOOD VERY GOOD EXCELLENT
GOOD NOR
POOR
LIMITATION OF THE STUDY
● Cross-Sectional Design
A cross-sectional design, which collects data at a specific point in time, can only
provide a snapshot of attitudes at that moment. It may not capture changes or
developments in attitudes over time.

● Influence of Curriculum
The specific curriculum and teaching methods at the University of Cyberjaya
may influence students' attitudes towards EBP. Factors such as the availability
of EBP resources, the emphasis on research, and the teaching of critical
appraisal skills may affect student perceptions.
LIMITATION OF THE STUDY
● Social Desirability Bias
Due to the perceived importance of evidence-based practice in healthcare,
students may feel pressure to express more positive attitudes towards EBP than
they genuinely hold, leading to biased responses.
CONCLUSION
Overall, the study on attitudes towards evidence-based practice among
physiotherapy students at the University of Cyberjaya contributes valuable
knowledge to the field of evidence-based healthcare. It reaffirms the
significance of instilling positive attitudes towards EBP during the formative
years of physiotherapy education. By fostering a culture of evidence-based
decision-making, future physiotherapists can be better equipped to deliver
high-quality, patient-centered care and contribute to advancing the
profession through research and innovation.
REFERENCE
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The NHS Plan. The Stationery Office, London. Hughes J., Humphrey C., Rogers S. & Greenhalgh T. (2002) Evidence into Action: Changing Practice in
Primary Care. Occasional Paper 84. Royal College of General Practitioners, London. Likert R. (1967) The method of constructing an attitude scale. In
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