Best Practice Projects

The Canadian Physiotherapy Association's (CPA) definition and evolving understanding of evidence-based practice is reflected in the use of the term "best practice". CPA's uses the following working definition in describing best practice: Best practice recognizes that evidence-based physiotherapy practice incorporates knowledge generation, synthesis, transfer and adoption. In clinical practice, physiotherapists readily integrate the best current research with clinical expertise, client values, and available resources to achieve best results for their clients.

Highlights of Best Practice Projects and Resources:

• Inventory of Clinical Practice Guidelines (CPGs) - In September 2000, the Ontario Physiotherapy Association (OPA), in conjunction with the Canadian Physiotherapy Association (CPA) developed an inventory of systematic reviews, meta-analyses and clinical practice guidelines (CPGs) relevant to physiotherapy and rehabilitation. This inventory is categorized by type of clinical specialization (musculoskeletal, neurological, cardiorespiratory) and provides detailed publication information to help locate the desired references. The database is updated annually and maintained on the CPA Members web site.
• Outcome Measures are valid, standardized tools that document and monitor changes in client conditions. In 2002, CPA published the second edition of the Physical Rehabilitation Outcome Measures: A Guide to Enhanced Clinical Decision Making which is available for purchase through CPA's e-store at www.physiotherapy.ca.
• Physiotherapy Canada is the official journal of the CPA. It is an international forum for the publication and review of information generated through research findings and their application, as well as innovation in clinical practice. See www.physiotherapy.ca for more information about Physiotherapy Canada.