Effect of education on physical and occupational therapists’ perceptions of clinical practice guidelines and shared decision making: a randomized controlled trial

[Purpose] This study aimed to investigate the influence of the evidence practice gap on physiotherapist and occupational therapists through shared decision making using the clinical practice guidelines. [Participants and Methods] A randomized controlled trial was used. The participants included 126 therapists from three institutions. The inclusion criteria was permanent employment in these institutions. Participants’ characteristics were masked from the allocator, evaluator, and analyzer. For the intervention group, a workshop on shared decision making was conducted using clinical practice guidelines. Two control groups were set. One group received a lecture on the knowledge of clinical practice guidelines, and the other group received a lecture on the knowledge of shared decision making. The primary outcomes were “education, attitudes and beliefs, and interest and perceived role in evidence-based practice” scale. [Results] The primary outcomes showed a significant difference between the clinical practice guidelines with shared decision making group and the clinical practice guidelines group (mean ± standard deviation, pre/post; clinical practice guidelines with shared decision making group, 2.4 ± 0.9/4.4 ± 1.7; clinical practice guidelines group, 3.0 ± 1.5/3.5 ± 2.0; shared decision making group, 2.6 ± 1.2/ 3.3 ± 1.8). [Conclusion] Shared decision making education using the clinical practice guidelines improves evidence-based practice of self-efficacy in physiotherapists and occupational therapists.