Dear evidence-based health list,
The recent discussion of evidence-based practice in various professions
gives me a good opportunity to update you on PEDro: the Physiotherapy
Evidence Database http://ptwww.cchs.usyd.edu.au/pedro/
PEDro is a freely-available internet-database of systematic reviews and
randomised controlled trials in physiotherapy (we currently have 444 SRs and
2788 RCTs). It was established in October 1999 by myself and physiotherapy
colleagues (Drs Rob Herbert, Anne Moseley and Chris Maher) who are Directors
of the Centre for Evidence-based Physiotherapy, based at the University of
Sydney, Australia. We have had support from the Rehabilitation and Related
Therapies Field of the Cochrane Collaboration, the University of Sydney
(School of Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation Studies Unit), the Motor
Accident Authority in NSW, the NRMA Insurance, the NSW Physiotherapists
Registration Board, the Australian Physiotherapy Association and a large
number of volunteer physiotherapists.
PEDro now has around 150 visitors a day. There has been increasing
international interest in the site and the home page has recently been
translated into Spanish. Volunteer physiotherapists from many countries
continue to assist with quality-rating of RCTs. The next task is to add
evidence-based clinical practice guidelines to PEDro. We are continually
seeking further funding to enable PEDro to continue to exist and expand.
If you have a chance please feel free to send me any feedback on PEDro and
let us know if you identify any SRs or RCTS that we are missing- keeping the
database up to date is a continuing struggle for the Centre and our
part-time project officer, Emma Smith.
Regards,
Cathie
*********************************************
Cathie Sherrington, PhD
Director
Centre for Evidence-Based Physiotherapy
Research Manager
NHMRC Injury Partnership Program
Prince of Wales Medical Research Institute
Barker St
Randwick NSW 2031
Australia
Ph: (612)9382 2668, Fax: (612)9382 2722
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