Beliefs, Attitudes, and Behaviors of Saudi Physiotherapists Toward Evidence-Based Practice: A Multicenter, Cross-Sectional Study

BACKGROUND: Evidence-based practice (EBP) has gained significant importance in clinical practice worldwide, including physiotherapy, but there are limited studies that have assessed the knowledge, attitude, and behaviors of Saudi physiotherapists toward EBP. OBJECTIVE: To determine the beliefs, attitudes, knowledge, and experience of Saudi physiotherapists in public hospitals of the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia toward EBP as well as identify barriers that limit the integration of EBP in clinical practice. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This cross-sectional design included all Saudi physiotherapists working in four major tertiary hospitals in the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia. The Evidence-Based Practice Questionnaire was used to elicit responses. The association between attitudes, awareness, and knowledge scores and the demographic data such as age group, years of experience, and level of education was assessed. RESULTS: The questionnaire was distributed to a total of 171 physiotherapists, of which 118 (69%) responded. About 90% of the participants agreed or strongly agreed that EBP is necessary for clinical practice. However, about 25%, 19%, and 18% of the participants reported that EBP does not consider clinical limitations, support physiotherapy intervention, or consider patients' physiotherapy preferences, respectively. The most common barrier in the implementation of EBP in daily clinical practice was insufficient time (>50%), followed by self-efficacy in retrieving evidence from the literature and translating research findings into clinical practice. Years of experience, age, and gender were significant factors associated with physiotherapists' beliefs and attitudes toward implementing EBP. CONCLUSIONS: Although EBP was favored, several barriers exist that hinder its adoption by physiotherapists. Institutional support and research skill development may help accelerate EBP adoption levels and should be considered by policymakers.