Athletic Trainers' Beliefs About and Implementation of Evidence-Based Practice.

Context: Understanding the beliefs about and use of evidence-based practice (EBP) among athletic trainers (ATs) will help to determine appropriate strategies to improve implementation.

Objective: To examine the ATs' beliefs about and use of EBP.

Design: Cross-sectional study.

Setting: Online survey instrument.

Patients Or Other Participants: A total of 467 ATs responded to the survey request, a response rate of 11.67%. A total of 385 (9.6%) completed the EBP Beliefs Scale and 342 (8.5%) completed the EBP Implementation Scale.

Main Outcome Measure(s): The EBP Beliefs Scale and EBP Implementation Scale were administered. The surveys collected demographic information in addition to information about participants' beliefs regarding EBP and implementation of EBP in clinical practice.

Results: The ATs demonstrated a level of neither agree nor disagree (56.00 ± 7.86) on the EBP Beliefs Scale. Belief scores were higher among those ATs required to document for third-party reimbursement (P = .001), those with access to current research through professional journals other than the Journal of Athletic Training (P = .02), and those with a doctoral degree (P = .01). A low level of implementation (9.00 ± 11.38), representing the implementation of EBP approximately 0 times in the previous 8 weeks, was found on the EBP Implementation Scale. Implementation scores were higher among preceptors (P = .01), those required to document for third-party reimbursement (P < .001), those with access to current research through professional journals (P = .002), and those with a doctoral degree (P = .01).

Conclusions: Participants had a positive attitude toward EBP; however, they were not implementing EBP concepts when providing patient care. This suggests that additional information and EBP resources are needed so ATs can better implement EBP in practice. To provide the best patient care and to promote EBP within the profession, clinicians should make EBP a priority and advocate for EBP implementation.