Considerations for planning and conducting clinic-based research in physical therapy.
There is growing demand to increase the volume of clinic-based research in physical therapy. Special considerations, unique to the planning and conduct of clinic-based research, need to be addressed to increase the likelihood that these studies will be completed successfully. The purposes of this perspective are to discuss factors affecting clinic-based research and to offer suggestions for addressing these problems when designing and conducting research studies in a clinical setting. This perspective discusses issues such as patient management, determining the availability of target patient populations, acquiring support from physical therapists and physicians, reporting and managing research-related injury or illness, and modifying or terminating projects. Some of the points made in this perspective are illustrated using examples from the authors' experiences in conducting clinical research.
Fitzgerald
G K
GK
Department of Physical Therapy, School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, University of Pittsburgh, 6035 Forbes Tower, Pittsburgh, PA 15260, USA. kfitzger+@pitt.edu
Delitto
A
A
D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D017041:Ethics Committees; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine; D017408:Guidelines as Topic; D006801:Humans; D020380:Needs Assessment; D009937:Organizational Objectives; D018579:Patient Selection; D026741:Physical Therapy Modalities / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards; D010934:Planning Techniques; D012107:Research Design / Q000592:standards*; D012109:Research Support as Topic / Q000458:organization & administration; D012944:Social Support; D012958:Societies, Scientific; D014481:United States