What’s different about ‘PEDro Evidence-Based Physiotherapy Practice Level 3’ compared to many of the other courses offered through the APA?

This course stands out because it is applicable to physiotherapists in all areas of practice. 

The aim is to help clinicians develop the skills to find, access and use research to improve the quality of their practice. 

Among the allied health professions, physiotherapy draws on an unusually large volume and scope of research, which means that the challenge for clinicians is finding and interpreting good quality, applicable studies. 

The course will be useful irrespective of whether participants see intubated patients in intensive care, weekend warriors looking to get back onto the field, kids with cerebral palsy, workers with neck pain or older people trying to move more safely and regularly.

Tell us a bit about the course. What are the major learning outcomes and approaches covered?

All the research in the world is only useful if clinicians know how to find what is relevant and implement it with their patients. 

The course consists of a series of short online lectures complemented by resources with information on what good research looks like and how studies can be used to support clinical decision-making. 

In a key active learning part of the course, participants are guided through creating and running a journal club with their colleagues. 

Because all the material is online, people can work through the course at their own pace and dip back into the brief lectures as needed.

Steve Kamper has worked closely with the APA and PEDro to develop this course.

How does this course align with the APA’s Physiotherapy Career Pathway Competence Framework?

The course is aimed squarely at the ‘Scholar’ role within the APA Career Pathway. 

This role recognises that the value of physiotherapy as an evidence-based profession depends on physiotherapists being able to interact genuinely with scientific research.

The team of researchers and educators at PEDro, led by Dr Simone Dorsch and me, developed the course in close consultation with the APA. 

We wanted to make sure that participants would come through with the skills necessary to meet the specific competencies for an APA Titled Physiotherapist (Milestone 3 Highly Developed). 

Physiotherapy is an evidence-based profession and the leaders in our profession must engage with research and know how to use it in day-to-day care.

What will participants receive on completion of ‘PEDro Evidence-Based Physiotherapy Practice Level 3’?

All the resources and materials are accessible online and participants can go through them whenever and at whatever pace they choose. 

Once they have worked through all the content, they will receive a Certificate of Attendance. 

There is also the option to do two assessments and gain feedback from members of the PEDro Education and Training Subcommittee, who all have expertise in research and evidence-based practice. 

If participants do the assessments, they’ll receive a Certificate of Completion. 

Most importantly, they will increase their skills in evidence-based practice and learn how to organise and run professional development for themselves and their colleagues.

What gave you the idea to develop this course?

It is no exaggeration to say that Australia leads the world in terms of research conducted by physiotherapists and relevant to physiotherapy. 

PEDro has been in the business of helping physiotherapists globally to incorporate research into their practice since 1999. 

In fact, one of the PEDro founders, Professor Rob Herbert, ‘wrote the book’ on evidence-based physiotherapy. 

The APA has been a strong supporter and partner of PEDro for over 20 years. 

For this course, PEDro and the APA have teamed up to create something that reflects their shared goals of promoting the best quality physiotherapy practice and supporting Australian physiotherapists to develop their careers.

‘PEDro Evidence-Based Physiotherapy Practice Level 3’ is available as an online course through CPD4Physios. Click here for more information and to register.

>> Steve Kamper APAM is a physiotherapist and Professor of Allied Health at the University of Sydney and Nepean Blue Mountains Local Health District. His research interests are in musculoskeletal pain and making research evidence available to clinicians. Steve is a National Health and Medical Research Council Fellow and his main role involves training and supporting clinicians in the public health system to embed research into their day-to-day practice.