Research

This website is for clinicians and researchers at any stage of their training or career who want to learn more about evidence-based practice in orthopedic manual therapy. The website promotes research collaboration, enhances communication links between researchers, and facilitates networking between centers internationally specialized in the field of musculo-skeletal research.   It lists the following:  

• Research by member organization (country) and by topic.  Ongoing research may include basic science, applied science, or clinical science.  Both quantitative and qualitative research is listed.
  
  
• Outcome measures which may be of practical use to orthopedic manual therapists. Links and references to their psychometric properties and the measurement tool are as follows:
  
  Finch E, Brooks D, Stratford PW, Mayo NE. 2002 Physical Rehabilitation Outcome Measures: A Guide to Enhanced Clinical Decision Making. 2nd ed. BC Decker Inc: Hamilton, Ontario.  ISBN 1-55009-220-0  information@physiotherapy.ca
  
  Maher C, Latimer J, Refshauge K. 2000 Atlas of clinical tests and measures for low back pain. ISBN 0959583866
  
  

Busy practitioners may wish to access critical appraisal guides / forms for various categories of research by linking to the following websites:

• Diagnosis and screening, Prognosis, Therapy, Harm, Systematic Reviews
  

  Centre for Evidence-Based Medicine. Levels of evidence and grades of recommendation.  www.cebm.net/levels_of_evidence.asp.
  
  Evidence based medicine tool kit. www.med.ualberta.ca/ebm/htm
  
  Systems to rate the strength of scientific evidence. Summary, evidence report/technology assessment: number 47. AHRQ pub. no. 02-E015, March 2002. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, Rockville, Md. www.ahrq.gov/clinic/epcsums/strengthsum.htm. 
  

• Evidence based Clinical Practice Guidelines
  
  Appraisal of Guidelines for Research and Evaluation (AGREE Instrument) www.agreecollaboration.org. Accessed on June 29, 2004.
  
  

• Outcome Measures
  
  Outcome Measures Rating Forms and Guidlines:  www.fhs.mcmaster.ca/canchild, press measures and multimedia; Go to Evaluation and Rating Forms, Outcome Measures Rating Form and Guidelines
  
  
• Qualitative Research
  
  Outcome Measures Rating Forms and Guidlines:  www.fhs.mcmaster.ca/canchild, press measures and multimedia, Go to Evaluation and Rating Forms, Critical Review Form - Qualitative Studies and Guidelines
  
  
• Tools for Using Evidence in Practice
  
  Critically Appraised Topics (CATs)
  www.cebm.net/cats.asp

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