The Evidence-Based Research approach for conducting new studies in physiotherapy research. A meta-research study comparing author guidelines of physiotherapy-related journals to those of leading journals with the highest impact factor

Abstract

Abstract Background: The Evidence-Based Research (EBR) approach requires authors to base their research on a systematic review of the existing literature. Adhering to this approach prevents the generation of redundant scientific studies, thereby avoiding the deprivation of effective therapies for trial participants and the waste of research funds. To promote the adoption of this approach, scientific medical journals could include the EBR approach in their author guidelines. While this applies to all areas of research, it is particularly relevant to physiotherapy and rehabilitation research, which predominantly involve interventional trials in patients. Objective: The aim of this study was to determine the extent to which the EBR approach is already being requested by physiotherapy-related scientific medical journals (PTJs). In addition, a comparison was made between PTJs and leading journals (LJs), i.e. scientific medical journals with the highest impact factor in the Science Citation Index Extended (SCIE). Methods: This meta-research study is based on a systematic examination of the author guidelines of 149 PTJs. The journals were identified and included based on the number of publications with physiotherapy as a keyword. The included author guidelines were analysed for the extent to which they specified that new studies should be justified by a systematic review of the literature. Additionally, they were compared with 14 LJs, which were identified by their impact factor in the SCIE. Results: In their author guidelines, none of the included PTJs required or recommended the use of a systematic review to justify new trials. Among LJs, four journals (28,57%) required the study justification through a systematic review of the literature. Conclusion: Neither PTJs nor LJs have adopted the EBR approach in their author guidelines. Further efforts are needed to establish the implementation.