Abstract
Background: Research into the use of EBP in chiropractic practices in Mpumalanga, Limpopo, North West and Free State is limited. There have not been any surveys carried out, or questionnaires distributed, to ascertain the attitudes towards, and utilization of, evidence-based practise by chiropractors who are practising in these regions.
Aim: The primary aim of this study is to investigate the attitudes towards, knowledge and perceptions of and barriers towards EBP by Chiropractors in Mpumalanga, Limpopo, North West and the Free State.
Method: This was a cross-sectional, explorative, quantitative study utilizing an EBASE questionnaire. In these particular regions no survey has been done regarding attitudes towards, and utilization of, evidence-based practice. The participants in the study were chiropractors who are registered with the Allied Health Professions Council of South Africa (AHPCSA) and the Chiropractic Association of South Africa (CASA) who were practicing, within the provinces of Mpumalanga, Limpopo, North West and Free State. Participants were recruited via email. The email contained a link to the questionnaire to be completed. The distribution of this email was done through the AHPCSA and the CASA.
Procedure: An email was sent to all registered members of AHPCSA and CASA, containing an information letter. Chiropractors who were willing to participate in the study followed the link provided in the mail which directed them to the EBASE questionnaire for completion.
Results: Data was collected to determine the attitudes and utilization of evidence-based practice in Mpumalanga, Limpopo, North West and Free State. The response rate for this study was 31.6% of qualified chiropractors in these specific regions.
This study revealed that 91.7% (n=11) respondents did not feel that evidence-based practice is necessary in the practice of chiropractic. These respondents perceived their levels of research skills as adequate, but at the same time were interested in improving their research skills. It was apparent that research training/education had been done as part of their chiropractic training and that very little further training in research had been undertaken.
The results further showed that usage of research in respondents’ practices was low, as was the percentage of their practice that is based on clinical research. The types of information sources that respondents viewed as important varied and some of those sources deemed as important do not feature as important elements of evidence-based practice. No specific barriers emerged that were preventing respondents from utilizing evidence-based practice and , most importantly, the majority of respondents were in agreement that there were a number of facilitators and resources available to them that would enable them to incorporate EBP into their practices.
Conclusion: The majority of registered chiropractors in Mpumalanga, Limpopo and Free State acknowledge and appreciate the value of evidence-based practice, report adequate research skills but utilize EBP activities at a rather low level. The fact that most chiropractors in these regions indicate a desire to improve their EBP skills to increase the level of EBP usage into their practices indicates a need for chiropractic institutions to more adequately equip graduates with the skills needed to fully utilize evidence-based practice. In addition, these findings highlight the need for further research in South Africa to further establish the level of skills of chiropractors in implementing EBP into their practice, to further establish a feasible level of EBP activities for chiropractors and also to establish what strategies will support chiropractors in improving their uptake of EBP more fully.
Key Words: Chiropractic, knowledge, attitudes, skills, perceptions, evidence-based practice, utilisation.