re: It’s Time to Read the Literature

Michael Rosenberg — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 01:57:16 GMT

Great points made. Reading articles can hopefully always stir the thinking process, decision making and treatment ideas. Even might lead to improved clinical research by seeing the weakness of a research article and finding a way to improve on the topic.

Thanks

Michael

www.therapyeducationconsulting.com

re: It’s Time to Read the Literature

Christie — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 00:29:13 GMT

Toni,

You make an excellent point that research is poorly understood. Granted, I graduated with my entry level PT degree (a BS) about 9 years ago, but I have to look back on the prerequisite courses I had then and the required prerequisites to a basic DPT program now. Aside from having to actually have a BS degree to actually ENTER the program, the prerequisites really haven't changed at all. One basic course in statistics. Once in the PT program, one or two research based courses.

Are we really providing ourselves with adequate amount of infromation to prepare ourselves for EBP? Between my BS, my transtionary DPT and continuing education in the McKenzie Diploma program, I've taken another research based course at each level. Each time I learn something new. One thing is for certain...basic statistics was not enough to prepare me to really understand concepts such as confidence intervals, kappa values, regression analysis, etc.

Perhaps a more thorough understanding of research based statistics is required...I know it would still help me...I know I still have a lot to learn...despite having three separate research classes.

Inability to analyze and interpret scientific literature is a huge barrier in any medical field. I think we are at a crossroads where we really need to make a decision on how to best address this deficit. In the end, I think more statistics would have been very beneficial. I dont' know if any of you remember your stats class, but mine was all about the chances of pulling a blue marble out of a bad.