Keeping up-to-date: continuing education, practice improvement strategies, and evidence-based physiotherapy practice

ISSN： 1532-5040

Source： Physiotherapy Theory and Practice, Vol.17, Iss.3, 2001-09, pp. : 187-199

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Abstract

The objective of this article is to provide information about evidence-based practice, continuing education, or practice improvement strategies to assist physiotherapists in becoming life-long learners and improving the care they provide to clients. Several theories and empirical evidence relating to different behaviour change strategies are presented. An examination of the similarities across theories of behaviour change together with the evidence presented can provide direction for planning or choosing change strategies. Behaviour change is complex with many interacting influences on behaviour including personal characteristics, the practice environment, and the local community. Several theories suggest that a behavioural diagnosis is useful to identify potential problems that might impede any proposed change. Multifaceted interventions involving several interventions are more effective than single strategies. Didactic lectures and written educational materials alone are unlikely to result in practice change. Physiotherapists should ensure that assessment procedures and treatments that lack support from sound research and are inconsistent with biological and physiological mechanisms are not provided to clients. Changing practice can be difficult, but multifaceted strategies can be effective if potential facilitators and barriers to the change process are analyzed. Physiotherapists need to critically assess the merits of continuing education courses and choose strategies that are most likely to improve practice.