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PEDro users select high-quality clinical research

An evaluation of the relationship between the number of times articles are accessed on the PEDro and the article characteristics has recently been published. All articles indexed on PEDro for a 6-month period (August 2014 to January 2015) were evaluated. We extracted variables relating to the algorithm used to present PEDro search results (research design, year of publication, PEDro score, source of systematic review (Cochrane or non-Cochrane)) plus language, area of physiotherapy, and whether articles were promoted to PEDro users. There were 29,313 articles indexed on PEDro and the total number of accesses was 633,876. The median (25th centile; 75th centile) number of accesses for an article was 10 (4; 25). We identified seven factors that predicted the number of accesses. More accesses were noted for factors related to the algorithm used to present PEDro search results (synthesis research (i.e., guidelines and reviews), recent articles, Cochrane reviews, and higher PEDro score) plus publication in English and being promoted to PEDro users. Musculoskeletal, neurology, orthopaedics, sports, and paediatrics articles were associated with more accesses. The number of times an article is accessed on PEDro is partly predicted by how condensed and high quality the evidence it contains is.

Yamato TP, et al. Quality, language, subdiscipline and promotion were associated with article accesses on Physiotherapy Evidence Database (PEDro). Physiotherapy 2018;104(1):122-8

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