Evidence Based Practice I

This 16-week course during the first term of the DPT curriculum is the first in a series of two courses on evidence-based practice. It equips students to apply or translate research evidence to patient care practices and clinical decision-making.

This course is the first in a series of two courses, which prepare students with knowledge and skills to be an evidence-based physical therapist. The two courses are offered in the first two semesters of the Doctor of Physical Therapy program. The American Physical Therapy Association recognizes the use of evidence-based practice as central to providing high quality clinical care and decrease unwanted variation in practice. Evidence-based practice is a method of clinical decision-making and practice. It includes the integration of best available scientific research with clinical expertise and a patient’s unique values and circumstances. This course covers two major topics: 1) finding and appraising evidence to improve patient care; and 2) communication and technology for evidence-based practice. For the former topic, the focus is on intervention research studies and diagnostic research studies.