Hooked on Evidence

How to Contribute to the Database

What is Hooked on Evidence

Hooked on Evidence is a database on the effectiveness of physical therapy interventions.  It was designed to give clinicians quick and easy online access to current research.  All articles in the database are from peer reviewed journals and are summarized by physical therapists.  The articles range from case reports to randomized controlled research studies and are integrated with the Guide to Physical Therapy Practice.  Hooked on Evidence can be accessed by APTA members through the APTA’s web page, http://www.apta.org/hookedonevidence/index.cfm. 

How to contribute to the Hooked on Evidence Database

Hooked on Evidence began as a grassroots effort and now has over 500 published extractions.  Therapists from all over the nation have formed groups to study the effectiveness of different therapy interventions.  No special research skills are required to submit reviews to the database.  The success of the database is dependent upon members’ submissions to the database.

How to form a group for the Hooked on Evidence Database

1.      A group of coworkers, friends or physical therapy students can get together and decide to examine a topic of interest.

2.      One person can be considered a group.  If a person is currently doing a literature review for a presentation or a paper, it is very simple to take that information and use it in the Hooked on Evidence database.

3.      The Iowa Physical Therapy Association Research Committee is compiling a list of clinicians through Iowa who are interested in participating in the Hooked on Evidence database, but do not have a group.  The Research Committee will put clinicians that are in geographic proximity and have similar interests in contact with each other.

Once a topic is chosen, contact David Scalizitta, PT, MS, OCS, the APTA’s Associate Director of Research Services.  He will make sure no one else is currently reviewing the topic.  A list of current topics are available on the website.

How to submit articles to the Hooked on Evidence Database

1.      Perform a literature search for a clinical topic.

2.      Retrieve the relevant articles from peer-reviewed literature.

3.      Divide the articles among members. 

4.      Summarize the data and findings using the structured online extraction form on the Hooked on Evidence website.

5.      Submit the review online to the APTA.  The APTA will review the submission and then add it to the database.

How can the Iowa Physical Therapy Association Research Committee help?

·        If you are interested in contributing to the database, but cannot find enough people to form a group, the Research Committee is compiling a list of people want to be in a group.  We will then put you in contact with other clinicians that live near you and have similar interests.

·        If you have questions about searching the literature, reviewing articles, or submitting the summaries online, the Research Committee has individuals who can help.

 Contact Information

·        David Scalzitti, APTA’s Associate Director of Research Services,

1-800-999-2782, ext 8555

·        Mike Puthoff, IPTA Research Committee Chairperson, 563-391-1319 or

michael-puthoff@uiowa.edu.

·        Soren Long, IPTA Research Committee Member, 712-204-2246 or

soren-long@hotmail.com.

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