The Physiotherapy Evidence Database (PEDro) has better free full-text access than PubMed: An observational study

Anne M Moseley; David Fernández Hernando; Bruno T Saragiotto; Saurab Sharma; Elisa Maharjan; Mark R Elkins

doi:10.1016/j.bjpt.2022.100392

The Physiotherapy Evidence Database (PEDro) has better free full-text access than PubMed: An observational study

Braz J Phys Ther. 2022 Jan-Feb;26(1):100392. doi: 10.1016/j.bjpt.2022.100392. Epub 2022 Jan 31.

Authors

Anne M Moseley¹, David Fernández Hernando², Bruno T Saragiotto³, Saurab Sharma⁴, Elisa Maharjan⁵, Mark R Elkins⁶

Affiliations

¹ Institute for Musculoskeletal Health, The University of Sydney and Sydney Local Health District, Camperdown, NSW, Australia. Electronic address: anne.moseley@sydney.edu.au.
² Hospital Fundación Jiménez Díaz, Madrid, Spain.
³ Masters and Doctoral Programs in Physical Therapy, Universidade Cidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
⁴ Centre for Pain IMPACT, Neuroscience Research Australia, Randwick, NSW, Australia; School of Medical Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia; Centre for Musculoskeletal Outcomes Research, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand; Department of Physical Therapy, Kathmandu University School of Medical Sciences, Dhulikhel, Kavre, Nepal.
⁵ Star Hospital, Lalitpur, Nepal.
⁶ Centre for Education and Workforce Development, Sydney Local Health District, Rozelle, NSW, Australia.

Abstract

Background: Access to full-text articles is an essential element of evidence-based practice.

Objective: Estimate the percentage of articles in the Physiotherapy Evidence Database (PEDro) that have free full-text access and compare free access between PEDro and PubMed. Secondary objectives for access via PEDro: determine if publication year and geographic location impact on free access; determine if adding a link to a portable document format (PDF) locator website would improve free access; and evaluate the association between article characteristics and free access.

Methods: This observational study used a random sample of 200 articles published in 2000-2019 and indexed in PEDro. Data collectors in Australia, Brazil, Nepal, and Spain attempted to access free full text for each article via PEDro. One data collector attempted to access free full text via PubMed. One data collector attempted to access full text via a PDF locator (http://www.pdfsearchengine.net/). The percentage (95% confidence interval [CI]) of articles with free full-text access from PEDro, PubMed, and the PDF locator website were calculated. Logistic regression was used to evaluate the association between free full-text access and article characteristics.

Results: Free full text could be accessed via PEDro for 51% of the articles (95% CI: 44, 58). PEDro had 4% higher free access than PubMed (95% CI: 1, 7). Access via PEDro did not vary systematically with time, geographic location, or article characteristics. Access improved by 9% (95% CI: 6, 14) by adding a PDF locator website.

Conclusions: PEDro is a good source of free full-text articles for physical therapists and other rehabilitation professionals. Evidence resources, professional organisations, employers, researchers, and research agencies could all help to increase access to free full text.

Keywords: Access to information; Databases, Bibliographic; Evidence-based practice; Physical therapists.

Publication types

Observational Study

MeSH terms

Brazil
Databases, Factual
Humans
Physical Therapists*
Physical Therapy Modalities*
PubMed