Usage evaluation of the Physiotherapy Evidence Database (PEDro) among Brazilian physical therapists

• Published in: Revista brasileira de fisioterapia (São Carlos (São Paulo, Brazil)) Vol. 19; no. 4; pp. 320 - 328
• Main Authors: Elkins, Mark R, Moseley, Anne M, Pinto, Rafael Z
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English; Portuguese
• Published: Brazil Associação Brasileira de Pesquisa e Pós-Graduação em Fisioterapia 01.08.2015
• Subjects: Brazil; Databases, Factual - statistics & numerical data; Evidence-Based Practice - standards; Evidence-Based Practice - statistics & numerical data; Humans; Original; ORTHOPEDICS; Physical Therapists; Physical Therapy Modalities; Physical Therapy Specialty - standards; Physical Therapy Specialty - statistics & numerical data; REHABILITATION; evidence-based practice; rehabilitation; physical therapy
• ISSN: 1809-9246; 1413-3555; 1809-9246
• DOI: 10.1590/bjpt-rbf.2014.0104

It is unclear whether the Physiotherapy Evidence Database (PEDro) is widely and equally used by physical therapists in Brazil. As PEDro is considered a key resource to support evidence-based physical therapy, analyses of PEDro usage could reflect the extent of dissemination of evidence-based practice. To describe the usage of PEDro among the five regions of the World Confederation for Physical Therapy (WCPT) and, in more detail, in the South American region and Brazil over a 5-year period. PEDro home-page sessions and the number of searches performed were logged for a 5-year period (2010-2014). Absolute usage and relative usage were calculated for each region of the WCPT, each country in the South American region of WCPT, and each Regional Council (CREFITO) in Brazil. Europe had the highest absolute and relative usage among the five regions of the WCPT (971 searches per million-population per year), with the South American region ranked 4th in absolute terms and 3rd in relative terms (486). Within the South American region, Brazil accounted for nearly 60% of searches (755). Analysis at a national level revealed that usage per physical therapist in Brazil is very low across all CREFITOs. The highest usage occurred in CREFITO 6 with 1.3 searches per physical therapist per year. PEDro is not widely and equally used throughout Brazil. Strategies to promote PEDro and to make PEDro more accessible to physical therapists speaking Portuguese are needed.