BARRIERS, KNOWLEDGE AND FACILITATORS OF EVIDENCE BASED PHYSIOTHERAPY PRACTICE IN INDIA.

Background: Evidence based practice is a method to improve patient outcome by replacing the outdated practice with scientifically validated methods. Barriers, knowledge and facilitator influence evidence-based physiotherapy practice worldwide. Objective: This study was to explore the barriers, knowledge and facilitator of Evidence Based Practice (EBP) among physiotherapist in India Methods: A survey was conducted using a structured questionnaire among 50 physiotherapists, 42 responses were collected. Result: Respondents concurred that EBP is essential for practice, and it is helpful in both decision making and improving patient care. The most common barriers were time and workload constraints, lack of desire, financial incentives, weakness in English, difficulty in access to search engines, Inability to apply evidence. The facilitator includes targeting funding, access to remote, supportive staff and leadership committed to innovation and skills in EBP. The knowledge is limited to a few key terms. Conclusion: Physiotherapists in India have a positive attitude towards EBP, and it is necessary to move towards minimizing the existing barriers at the individual level by adopting effective multilateral policies. Attention is needed to improve EBP knowledge. Implication: EBP is the integration of best research evidence with clinical expertise and patient values. It provides open and thoughtful clinical decision making about physiotherapy management of patients.