Ifs Flashcards
What is evidence-based practice (EBP) in physical therapy?
EBP is the careful use of the best current evidence to make decisions about patient care.
EBP combines clinical expertise with research evidence to provide scientifically supported treatments.
Why is EBP important in physical therapy?
EBP helps move from traditional knowledge to scientifically valid methods and ensures treatments are tailored to patient needs.
It promotes patient-centered care by using the latest research.
How does EBP begin in physical therapy?
Start with a specific clinical question related to the patient’s issue.
Followed by searching for and appraising relevant research.
Why is it important to look at physical therapy practice from multiple perspectives?
To avoid variations and errors that could harm patients and to understand the impact on healthcare costs and access.
Cognitive biases can mislead clinical decisions, making EBP essential.
What are common biases that can impact clinical decision-making?
Common biases include:
* Ascertainment Bias
* Confirmation Bias
* Recency Effect
* Representativeness Bias
* Value Bias
These biases can distort clinical judgments.
How can clinicians reduce bias in their practice?
By relying on high-quality evidence consistently.
This helps to counteract biases in clinical decision-making.
What is a hierarchy of evidence?
A hierarchy of evidence organizes evidence by reliability and ability to minimize bias.
Systematic reviews are at the top, while animal studies are at the bottom.
Why are evidence hierarchies useful in physical therapy?
They help clinicians quickly understand the potential bias level in studies.
However, reliability varies across systems.
What makes good evidence in physical therapy?
Good evidence should have:
* Relevance
* Patient Similarity
* Consistency with Practice
* Peer-Reviewed Source
Peer-reviewed studies are generally more reliable.
Why does the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) emphasize EBP?
EBP is central to APTA’s goal of making PTs the preferred healthcare providers and ensures high-quality care.
It optimizes outcomes and aligns with patient-centered values.
Why is it important to synthesize and analyze data from multiple sources?
It provides comprehensive insight and focuses on quality human studies for clinical decisions.
Using diverse data sources helps create a full picture.
What are limitations of evidence hierarchies, and how can clinicians ensure accuracy?
Limitations include variability in reliability across hierarchies. Clinicians should conduct their own evaluations of each study.
This confirms quality and applicability.
What are the three main types of research designs?
The three main types are:
* Quantitative Research
* Qualitative Research
* Mixed Methods Research
Each type serves different research purposes.
What is quantitative research?
Quantitative research uses empirical data in numerical form to measure and analyze phenomena.
Examples include blood pressure and range of motion.
What types of quantitative designs exist?
Types of quantitative designs include:
* Experimental Design
* Non-Experimental (Quasi-Experimental) Design
Experimental design explores cause-and-effect relationships.
What is qualitative research?
Qualitative research explores the ‘why’ and ‘how’ of a phenomenon, focusing on participants’ experiences and perceptions.
Data examples include participant testimonies and narratives.
What are common qualitative study methods?
Common methods include:
* Case Studies
* Narrative Discourse
* Ethnography
* Phenomenology
* Grounded Theory
These methods explore different aspects of participant experiences.
