Table 3 Specific EBP content taught in the physical therapy curriculum (n = 28)

Asking clinical question and searching for evidence

 Formulating clinically relevant questions using PICO format^a

16

57.1

 Different types of clinical questions to guide literature search^b

20

71.4

 Constructing focused search strategy^a

19

67.9

 Locating clinical evidence using electronic databases^a

19

67.9

Critically appraising evidence

 Commonly used study designs and their major strength and limitations^a

21

75.0

 Assessing relevance of study design to clinical question^a

16

57.1

 Hierarchy or levels of evidence^a

13

46.4

 Differences among narrative review, systematic review and meta-analysis^a

16

57.1

 Difference between clinical and statistical significance^a

15

53.6

 Interpreting results of statistical procedures such as t tests, chi-square tests^a

20

71.4

 Interpreting results of statistics such as p-value, confidence interval^a

17

60.7

 Understanding sensitivity and specificity, number needed to treat, odds ratio^a

16

57.1

 Understanding intention to treat analysis, power calculation^a

10

35.7

 Use of appraisal tools to assess validity^a

12

42.9

 Ways in which study validity can be threatened^a

16

57.1

 Difference between internal and external validity^a

19

67.9

 Critical appraisal of systematic reviews^a

9

32.1

 Interpreting forest plots in systematic reviews^a

5

17.9

 Critical appraisal of studies about intervention^b

14

50.0

 Critical appraisal of studies about diagnosis^b

12

42.9

 Critical appraisal of studies about prognosis^b

12

42.9

Integrating evidence and communicating results

 Deciding on appropriate clinical decision considering patient’s needs and treatment preferences^a

18

64.3

 Communicating results of appraisal at level appropriate to individual patient^a

13

46.4