Research and Clinical Practice in Physiotherapy: Journal Club

22B1925

Bachelor

English

5.0

only winter term

1 semester

The concept of evidence-based practice (EBP) is a prerequisite for better patient care. Implementing EBP in clinical practice means being able to regularly and purposefully draw on the academic body of knowledge of current physical therapy research in order to make correct clinical decisions for patients (diagnosis, prognosis, assessing the clinical course, initiating an intervention). The journal club is an established method to systematically answer questions from the physical therapy profession with the best available evidence and discuss them in a group of "peers". The focus is on the different study designs in physical therapy research, their relevance for evidence-based work with regard to clinical questions, and on scientific reading skills, which are taught and optimized using original studies from different areas of physical therapy. The participants select studies on a physiotherapy-relevant topic according to certain criteria and present them in plenary. Subsequently, the scientific quality and the clinical usefulness of the study results for the work on patients are discussed. The method learned here can also be continued in professional life after graduation.

1. Journal Club Basics
2. Study designs and their importance for physiotherapy research
3. Applied systematic literature review
4. Presentation and discussion culture
5. Assessment of the scientific quality of studies
6. Transferability of research results for clinical practice
7. Planning of studies on the basis of study protocols

The total workload for the module is 150 hours (see also "ECTS credit points and grading").

• Homework / Assignment and Oral presentation, with written elaboration

The selection of graded and ungraded examination types from the given options is the responsibility of the respective teacher. In doing so, he/she will adhere to the respective valid study regulations.

The written paper and the report are weighted by 50% each.

For the types of examinations permitted in the module, the following information on the scope or duration applies in each case.

• approx. 20 min presentation/speech with subsequent discussion and questions. Written report approx. 5 pages.
• term paper (approx. 10 to 15 pages)

The requirements will be specified in the respective course.

The module requires basic knowledge of research methods (see e.g. modules "Fundamentals of Research Methods in Physiotherapy Science") as well as basic knowledge of evidence-based physiotherapy as taught e.g. in the module "Evidence Based Physiotherapy".

Students will be able to identify scientific literature relevant to clinical questions using a systematic literature search. They will also be able to categorize the most important study designs.

Students will be able to understand studies and assess their scientific merit. In addition, they are able to relate the choice of study design to the underlying research objectives.

Students who have successfully studied this module will be able to interpret the results of relevant scientific literature and classify its usefulness for physiotherapy practice problems.

The students are able to base their physiotherapeutic activities on the best available evidence in everyday clinical practice. Furthermore, they are able to plan studies with appropriate research methodology (e.g. selection of adequate study design) in order to be able to answer their own research questions.

Students will be able to reflectively communicate, discuss, and summarize the content of studies and research processes in clear presentations and structured written papers.

Students cultivate the culture of discussion and apply the basic principle of evidence-based practice beyond their studies. EBP represents none of the pillars of the self-image of modern physical therapy.

This module is related to the modules "Fundamentals of Resaerch Methods in Physiotherapy Science", "Advanced Research Methods in Physiotherapy Science", and "Evidence Based Physiotherapy".

• Physiotherapy B.Sc. (01.03.2025)

• Armijo-Olivo, Susan

• Ballenberger, Nikolaus
• Armijo-Olivo, Susan