BMC Medical Education (Mar 2024)

Assessment of Evidence-Based Practice (EBP) among physiotherapists in Cameroon: a cross-sectional survey

  • Dilane Landry Nsangou Muntessu,
  • Hyacinte Trésor Ghassi,
  • Franklin Chu Buh,
  • Ange Wandji Nietho,
  • Julio Rostan Siewe,
  • Mpatoutou Me Mpatoutou

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12909-024-05273-w
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 24, no. 1
pp. 1 – 9

Abstract

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Abstract Background Evidence-Based Practice (EBP) is reported to ease effective and adequate decision making for all works of life including health professionals. Investigating the level of implementation of EBP among physiotherapists helps to identify barriers and propose solutions for its extensive implementation. Despite available data on EBP elsewhere, it remains limited or non-existent in Cameroon. This study was designed to establish the current state of EBP among physiotherapists in Cameroon, by assessing knowledge, practice, and barriers to its implementation. Methods A cross-sectional survey was conducted online among French- and English-speaking physiotherapists in Cameroon over a period of six months from April to July 2023, using the EBP2 questionnaire. This enabled us to collect socio-demographic data from participants and information on their knowledge, understanding and practice of EBP and possible barriers to EBP according to 5 domains (Confidence, Relevance, Terminology, Practice, Compatibility) scored out of 100. Data were analysed using IBM SPSS 25.0 software and Pearson correlations (95% CI) and significance (p 0.05). The main barriers to practice were lack of time (75.1%), workload (66%), cost of access to information resources like databases for seek informations about recent support protocols (60%), ease of access to computers (49%), and lack of resources or skills (49%). Conclusion Physiotherapists in Cameroon have a poor knowledge of EBP and a low level of practice of EBP, despite an overall positive attitude towards it. These results could inform stakeholders of higher education on the need to improve training of physiotherapy students in the domain of EBP in Physiotherapy. Also, it will help in raising the level of scientific research and promoting the implementation of EBP in Cameroon.

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