The World Confederation for Physical Therapy (WCPT) believes that physical therapists have a duty and responsibility to use evidence to inform practice and to ensure that the management of patients/clients, their carers and communities is based on the best available evidence. Evidence should be integrated with clinical experience, taking into consideration beliefs and values and the cultural context of the local environment. In addition, physical therapists have a duty and responsibility not to use techniques and technologies that have been shown to be ineffective or unsafe.
Evidence based practice (EBP) is facilitated by environments that embrace and promote it. Managers and organisations should provide appropriate support structures, resources, facilities and learning opportunities to ensure the delivery of highest quality care.
Physical therapists should be prepared to evaluate practice critically. In addition, they need to be able to identify questions arising in practice, access and critically appraise the best evidence, and implement and evaluate outcomes of their actions. Relevant life-long learning activities are fundamental to evidence based physical therapy and should be introduced in entry-level physical therapy programmes and extended through continuing professional development opportunities.
Collaboration both within the profession and with other professions or disciplines is vital to the delivery of evidence based practice. This collaboration needs to take place at a local, national and international level, to facilitate information sharing and best practice, and to capitalise on opportunities for collaborative work that minimise duplication.
WCPT encourages its Member Organisations to develop partnerships and collaborations on projects relevant to EBP. WCPT and its Member Organisations call on the national governments and non-governmental organisations to facilitate and promote evidence-based healthcare – for example, through providing appropriate resources such as computers, internet access, on-line databases, libraries, and training in EBP skills.
