Background: Healthcare practitioners are required to integrate clinical experience with the best research evidence for the benefit of the patient.Objective: Determine the attitudes, perceptions and barriers regarding evidence-based practice (EBP) in sports physiotherapy in Kenya.Method: A quantitative crosssectional study was conducted among licensed physiotherapists in the Republic of Kenya through a self-administered questionnaire. Associations between selected sociodemographic characteristics (gender, age, training, experience, specialisation) and attitudes, perceptions and barriers were determined using a Chi-square test.Results: A 55.9% (n = 391) response rate was recorded. A positive attitude towards EBP was reported by 94.6% (n = 370) of the respondents. The most obvious areas of agreement with attitude-and perception-related statements were that ‘EBP is important in that patients can receive the best possible treatment’ (95.9%; n = 375), and that it is important that ‘evidence-based guidelines related to work exist’ (84.6%; n = 331). There were no significant associations between the demographic characteristics (gender p = 0.104 [X2 = 2.638;1]; age p = 0.495 [X2 = 2.393;3]; training p = 0.590 [X2 = 4.644;6]; experience p = 0.980 [X2 = 0.426;4] and specialisation p = 0.649 [X2= 0.207;1]); and attitudes and perceptions regarding EBP. Insufficient time was highlighted by 57.8% (n = 226) of the respondents as one of the ‘most important barriers’.Conclusion: Although physiotherapists presented with strong positive attitudes towards EBP in sports physiotherapy, barriers were identified which could hinder the implementation of EBP in sports physiotherapy.Clinical implications: Barriers to applying EBP in sports physiotherapy may lead to inferior quality of care for athletes while addressing these barriers is crucial.

Background: Evidence-based practice (EBP) and evidence-based physiotherapy (EBPT) have been investigated in different physiotherapy clinical settings. However, there has been no research into knowledge and adherence in respect of evidence-based sports physiotherapy standards in Kenya. Objective: To determine the levels of knowledge and adherence towards EB sports physiotherapy standards among physiotherapists in Kenya. Method: A cross-sectional study using quantitative methods and in conjunction with a self-administered questionnaire was conducted in a population of 700 physiotherapists. Results: The response rate was (n=391; 55.9%). Involvement in structured sports physiotherapy practice accounted for (n=129; 32.9%). High levels of EBP knowledge (n=265; 67.8%) were reported. More males (n=185; 73.4%) than females (n=80; 57.5%) presented with high levels of EBP knowledge. Those with specializations (n=65; 83.3%) demonstrated higher levels of EBP knowledge than those without (n=200; 63.9%). Adherence to EBP process steps accounted for (n=143; 36.6%) of the population. More males (n=104; 41.3%) than females (n=39; 28.1%) adhered to the EBP process. Those with specializations (n=48; 61.5%) and those without (n=95; 30.4 %) adhered to the EBP process. Gender, training and specialization were found to have statistically-significant associations with knowledge and adherence (p<0.05). Conclusion: Physiotherapists in Kenya present with high levels of knowledge in EB sports physiotherapy but with lower levels of adherence to the EBP process. Clinical implications: Limited adherence to EBP standards despite high levels of knowledge points to an inferior quality of care for athletes with sports physiotherapy needs. Attention to the limiting factors to adherence may improve the quality of care. KEY WORDS: Evidence-based practice, standards, sports, physiotherapy, survey, Kenya.