Knowledge, behaviours and attitudes towards Evidence-Based Practice amongst physiotherapists in Poland. A nationwide cross-sectional survey and focus group study protocol

OBJECTIVES: Evidence-Based Practice, EBP, is recognised, along with team work and patient-centred care, as a core competency in contemporary healthcare. However, dissemination and implementation of EBP remains problematic and is dependent on various external and internal factors, from personal through institutional to systemic, factors, with specific characteristics for different professions, contexts and settings. Knowledge, behaviours, attitudes, as well as facilitators and barriers towards EBP amongst physiotherapists, have been widely explored worldwide, but never in Poland. This study is part of a nationwide project, including dissemination actions addressing EBP in physiotherapists registered in Poland. Our purpose is to explore the issues of knowledge, behaviours, experiences, and attitudes of physiotherapists in Poland towards EBP. Descriptive research studies are warranted before analytical investigations and dissemination activities are conducted. METHODS: We plan to conduct a quantitative, cross-sectional study–an online survey amongst the total population of physiotherapists registered in Poland to assess knowledge, behaviours and use of EBP (Study 1), and a qualitative study to allow physiotherapists to voice their opinions and to explore their experiences and attitudes towards EBP (Study 2). The EBP(2) questionnaire, Polish validated translation, will be used for Study 1, in a web-based survey. A focus group approach will be applied for Study 2, with purposive sampling to achieve a representative picture of physiotherapists with respect to setting, specialty, seniority, educational degrees, and age. We will follow an inductive approach, using topics rather than questions. RESULTS: We will present the results of the studies separately, as typically presented in relevant study types: Study 1 will be reported addressing the domains and items of the EBP(2), in relation to the independent variables, and Study 2 will be discussed using the themes and illustrative quotes analyses. DISCUSSION: We are aware that significant non-response, spin and Hawthorne effect may potentially bias our findings.