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Background and purpose Physiotherapists are expected to practice in an evidence-based way. Evidence-based practice (EBP) should be an integral part of the curriculum to ensure use of the five EBP steps: asking clinical questions, searching for and appraising research evidence, integrating the evidence into clinical practice and evaluating this process. The aim of this study was to compare self-reported EBP behaviour, abilities and barriers during clinical placements reported by five cohorts of final year physiotherapy students' with different EBP exposure across the 3-year bachelor programme. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted among five cohorts (2006–2010) with third year physiotherapy students at a University College in Norway. In total, 246 students were eligible for this study. To collect data, we used a questionnaire with 42 items related to EBP behaviour, ability and barriers. Associations were investigated using the Spearman's rho (r). Results In total, 180 out of 246 third year physiotherapy students, who had recently completed a clinical placement, filled out the questionnaire (73 %). The association between the level of EBP exposure and students' self-reported EBP behaviour, abilities and barriers was low for most items in the questionnaire. Statistically significant correlations were found for eight items, related to information need, question formulation, use of checklists, searching and perceived ability to search for and critically appraise research evidence. The strongest correlation was found between the level of EBP exposure and ability to critically appraise research evidence (r = 0.41, p

Purpose The aim of this study was to investigate content validity of the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) Core Sets for low back pain (LBP), by examining whether common activities reported as difficult to perform are included in the Core Sets. Methods A cross-sectional design was used. Ninety-eight patients with long-lasting back pain (>3 months) between 18 and 65 years of age were consecutively recruited from a Multidisciplinary Outpatient Spine Clinic. Difficulties with daily life and work task activities because of back pain were examined by asking the patients two questions: 1) can you specify activities that are difficult to perform because of your back pain? and 2) are there specific work tasks that you are unable to do because of your back pain? Two raters independently classified the written responses according to the ICF Core Sets' component Activities and Participation. Results Activities and work tasks were linked to 15 of 29 categories (52%) in the Comprehensive Core Set, and 9 of 12 (75%) in the Brief Core Set, and the initial agreement between the two raters in coding the answers according to the Core Sets was (83%, k = 0.80) and (93%, k = 0.9), respectively, before consensus was reached. Conclusions The Comprehensive Core Set for LBP to a large degree contains daily life and work-related activities frequently reported as difficult to perform by patients with long-lasting LBP. The categories, however, are very broad and do not provide specified descriptions of the most frequently reported activity limitations such as sitting, standing and walking. The Brief Core Set does not include categories for frequently reported activities such as pulling/pushing and leisure/recreation activities. ICF Core Sets for LBP seem suitable for obtaining a gross overview of the patients' functional limitations, but do not give sufficient information from a therapeutic point of view. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Background Physical tests and self-report measures are being used to measure physical functioning. The latter tends to be preferred in intervention studies. Purpose To examine whether the patients' global impression of change (PGIC) after rehabilitation was explained by change in pain, daily functioning, fear-avoidance of activities and various physical aspects, expecting contribution primarily by the self-reported measures. Methods A test-retest design, within a prospective cohort study of patients with long-lasting low back pain. 96 patients were consecutively recruited from an outpatient spine clinic, assessed by three self-report questionnaires and seven physical tests at inclusion and after 3.5 weeks of multidisciplinary treatment. With PGIC as the dependent variable, linear regression analyses of all variables were performed. The study was approved by the Regional Committee for Medical Research Ethics and the National Data Inspectorate of Norway. Results In unadjusted analysis, change in pain, daily functioning and change in six physical tests contributed to the explained variance (R2: 6–24%). In the adjusted analysis, only pain and back endurance strength contributed (adjusted R2: 48%). In the final backward stepwise blockwise analyses, daily functioning and spinal mobility were also found to contribute to the explained variance (R2: 48%). The time span of 3.5 weeks of training is too short to give a lasting effect, but the contribution to explained variance of PGIC of self-report measures and physical tests were the focus of this study, not the effect of training. Conclusion Most measures demonstrated change that was of significance to the patients after rehabilitation. Change in spinal mobility and back strength assessed by physical tests contributed to explain the patients' impression of change after controlling for change in pain and daily life functioning and may seem important to assess in addition to the self-report measures in intervention studies. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Background and Purpose. Patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) tend to have movement difficulties, and the effect of physiotherapy for this group of patients has been subjected to limited systematic research. In the present study physiotherapy based on the Bobath concept, applied to MS patients with balance and gait problems, was evaluated. The ability of different functional tests to demonstrate change was evaluated. Method. A single-subject experimental study design with ABAA phases was used, and two patients with relapsing–remitting MS in stable phase were treated. Tests were performed 12 times, three at each phase: A (at baseline); B (during treatment); A (immediately after treatment); and A (after two months). The key feature of treatment was facilitation of postural activity and selective control of movement. Several performance and self-report measures and interviews were used. Results. After intervention, improved balance was shown by the Berg Balance Scale (BBS) in both patients, and improved quality of gait was indicated by the Rivermead Visual Gait Assessment (RVGA). The patients also reported improved balance and gait function in the interviews and scored their condition as ‘much improved’. Gait parameters, recorded by an electronic walkway, changed, but differently in the two patients. Among the physical performance tests the BBS and the RVGA demonstrated the highest change, while no or minimal change was demonstrated by the Rivermead Mobility Index (RMI) and Ratings of Perceived Exertion (RPE). Conclusion. The findings indicate that balance and gait can be improved after physiotherapy based on the Bobath concept, but this should be further evaluated in larger controlled trials of patients with MS. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.