Pragmatism in practice: Mixed methods research for physiotherapy

Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to provide an argument for the place of mixed methods research across practice settings as an effective means of supporting evidence-based practice in physiotherapy. Physiotherapy practitioners use both qualitative and quantitative methods throughout the process of patient care-from history taking, assessment, and intervention to evaluation of outcomes. Research on practice paradigms demonstrates the importance of mixing qualitative and quantitative methods to achieve 'expert practice' that is concerned with optimizing outcomes and incorporating patient beliefs and values. Research paradigms that relate to this model of practice would integrate qualitative and quantitative types of knowledge and inquiry, while maintaining a prioritized focus on patient outcomes. Pragmatism is an emerging research paradigm where practical consequences and the effects of concepts and behaviors are vital components of meaning and truth. This research paradigm supports the simultaneous use of qualitative and quantitative methods of inquiry to generate evidence to support best practice. This paper demonstrates that mixed methods research with a pragmatist view provides evidence that embraces and addresses the multiple practice concerns of practitioners better than either qualitative or quantitative research approaches in isolation.

Manipulating practices: A critical physiotherapy reader

“…A growing body of research in physiotherapy examines the skills and knowledge that physiotherapists require to adopt more evidence-based practices, illuminating barriers and facilitators to achieving a more evidence-based approach (Salbach, Jaglal, Korner-Bitensky, Rappolt, & Davis, 2007;Shaw, Connelly, & Zecevic, 2010). Research promoting the use of more evidencebased approaches has tended to take for granted the philosophical beliefs and ultimate value of the broader EBHC perspective, neglecting to consider whether and how the EBHC approach might conflict with physiotherapy care.…”

Physical Therapy Research in Professional Clinical Practice

“…Intuitive knowledge of what is right may be difficult to precisely describe in words [26]. According to Shaw et al both qualitative and quantitative research methods are needed, and mixed methods research is warranted to generate evidence to support best practice [29].…”

Untitled

“…The therapist faces many challenges in their professional practice and needs to develop, from a scientific point of view, a methodology to use EBP 7 in their daily work, always aiming to provide the maximum for the patient through better and more well-founded clinical practice 7,10,11 .…”

“…Thus, it is important not only to take in the available literature, but also put this information into clinical practice. After the observations presented, the FAMA approach emerged and uses four steps to EBP 7,10,11 : the transformation of clinical needs in answerable matters, the location of the best evidence to answer these questions, to critically check the validity and importance of evidence, and the integration to verify the clinical experience to the needs of the patients.…”