PEDro is supported by a global community of dedicated volunteers who generously give their time and expertise to help make high-quality physiotherapy evidence more accessible.
Our PEDro rater network spans more than 26 countries and language groups and works collectively to assess the methodological quality of clinical trials indexed in PEDro. PEDro raters help physiotherapists around the world quickly find and use the best available evidence.
To help the PEDro rater community connect and continue developing their rating skills, we created the PEDro Rater Facebook Group. The group provides a space for raters to ask questions, learn from each other, and stay connected with fellow raters around the world.
Over the past year, two of our PEDro raters, Nicholas Dang and Gerardo Candoni have stepped into the role of moderating this online group. They have helped to support conversations and learning amongst the raters through different activities such as a PEDro scale refresher webinar, polls, inspirational posts. We asked Nicholas and Gerardo to share about their physiotherapy journey, experience as a PEDro rater and the benefits of being part of the PEDro rater community.
Nicholas Dang
1. Can you tell us a little bit about yourself and your professional background in physiotherapy?
I’m a musculoskeletal physiotherapist with a particular interest in applying science to health, exercise and rehabilitation. I’ve worked in private practice and with schools and sporting teams across Sydney, Australia. I currently practise at Wild Physio Fitness and Saint Ignatius’ College Riverview, and I’m also working as a musculoskeletal clinician as part of Macquarie University’s ConnecTBack Trial. Outside of work, I try to juggle strength training, running and taekwondo, along with watching TV shows and Liverpool FC – with varying degrees of success.
2. What first inspired you to get involved with PEDro as a volunteer rater?
I initially got involved because I wanted to improve my own ability to critically read and appraise research. I also liked the idea of contributing to a resource that helps clinicians navigate the ever-growing body of physiotherapy research and make better use of the available evidence.
3. What are some of the benefits of joining the PEDro raters community?
Being part of the PEDro raters community is a great opportunity to connect with like-minded clinicians and researchers from around the world. It also helps you continue developing your critical appraisal skills and stay up to date with developments in PEDro and physiotherapy research.
Gerardo Candoni
1. Can you tell us a little bit about yourself and your professional background in physiotherapy?
I am a physiotherapist from Argentina with a background in neurorehabilitation. I studied physiotherapy at the University of Buenos Aires and later completed postgraduate training in clinical research. My professional activity combines clinical practice with research, particularly in neurological rehabilitation. Over the years, I have become increasingly interested in evidence-based practice and in how clinicians can use research evidence to make better decisions for their patients. This interest in bridging research and clinical practice is also what led me to become involved with PEDro.
2. What first inspired you to get involved with PEDro as a volunteer rater?
What initially attracted me was the idea that I could contribute to a resource that I was already using in my own clinical and research work.
As a physiotherapist interested in evidence-based practice, I had been using PEDro to find clinical trials and systematic reviews. When I learned that physiotherapists could volunteer as raters, I found the idea very appealing: by assessing the methodological quality of studies, I could contribute to a resource that helps physiotherapists around the world make better use of research evidence. It was a simple way of turning my interest in evidence-based practice into a practical contribution to the profession.
3. What are some of the benefits of joining the PEDro raters community?
One of the main benefits is developing your critical appraisal skills. Rating studies encourages you to look carefully at study design, methodology and reporting, which can improve the way you read and interpret research.
But for me, another important benefit is being part of an international community. PEDro brings together physiotherapists from different countries who share an interest in improving evidence-based practice. Even though rating an article may seem like a small contribution, collectively these contributions help maintain a resource that is used by physiotherapists around the world.
PEDro extends a big thank you to Nicholas and Gerardo for their commitment and wonderful contribution as moderators to the PEDro Raters Facebook group over the past year. It’s been great to have you on board! We look forward to welcoming new moderators to the group.
Interested in becoming a PEDro rater?
PEDro Raters typically have a background in physiotherapy, or a related field, and a strong interest in evidence-based practice and help shape the physiotherapy profession. This includes clinicians, educators, academics and students.
- Hear the experiences from more PEDro raters about PEDro training and rating
- Read about the benefits of becoming a PEDro rater. Fandim JV, Crowe-Owen L, Romanyshyn M, Chan SWW. Reasons to become a volunteer Rater for the Physiotherapy Evidence Database (PEDro). Journal of Physiotherapy 2022;68(4): 215-217.
- Register and complete the PEDro Training Program. This is an online self-paced course that typically takes 3-6 hours to complete depending on your level of experience. It includes video tutorials, practice examples, and ends with an accuracy test to ensure you can apply the PEDro scale correctly. The training program is available in both English and Portuguese and can be accessed at https://training.pedro.org.au/
- Pass the Accuracy Test. At the end of the training, you’ll take a test to demonstrate your ability to rate trials accurately. If you pass, you’ll receive a certificate and an invitation to become a volunteer PEDro rater.
If you have further questions, you can contact PEDro here.
