Learning, Communication, and Use of Evidence Based Practice in Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction Rehabilitation: An Exploratory Survey of French Physiotherapists

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Background: Implementation of evidence-based practice in anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR) rehabilitation depends on clinicians' learning strategies, interprofessional communication, and use of medical databases, yet these domains are understudied in France. Purpose: To describe learning, communication, and use of medical databases among French physiotherapists managing ACLR and explore associations with professional characteristics. Study Design: Cross-sectional, web-based survey. Methods: Licensed physiotherapists practicing in France and involved in ACLR rehabilitation completed a nationwide, web-based questionnaire collecting demographic and professional characteristics (e.g., age, years of experience, and ACLR caseload), as well as learning, communication, and medical database searching practices was distributed via professional networks and social media platforms between February and May 2025. Primary outcomes were self-reported learning strategies, interprofessional communication methods, and medical databases. Descriptive statistics summarized responses; exploratory Chi square tests examined associations with age, years of experience, caseload, and perceived encouragement for continuing education. Associations are reported using odds ratios (OR) with 95% confidence intervals. Given the descriptive nature of the study and the relatively high prevalence of several outcomes, odds ratios were interpreted as descriptive measures of association rather than as estimates of risk. Results: Sixty-two physiotherapists participated; 56.5% were aged 20-30 years and 48.4% had ≤5 years' experience. Primary outcomes showed distinct patterns across the three investigated domains. Regarding learning strategies, only 48.4% of respondents perceived continuing education as sufficiently encouraged. Interprofessional communication was mainly informal, with 90.3% reporting no formal training; communication with other professionals occurred primarily via email (59.7%) and messaging applications (56.5%). Medical database searching practices indicated that 77.4% reported using medical databases (e.g., PubMed/CINAHL), while 50.0% felt comfortable/very comfortable performing database searches; however, lack of time was the most frequently cited barrier to use (32.3%). Early-career clinicians (≤5 years) were more likely to use PubMed than those with >15 years' experience (80.0% vs 45.5%; OR 4.8, 95% CI 1.1-21.2), whereas younger clinicians (<35 years) showed lower confidence in medical database searching than older peers (34.6% vs 70.0%; OR 0.23, 95% CI 0.05-1.16; trend). PubMed use was not associated with annual ACLR caseload (<20 vs ≥20 patients/year: 76.1% vs 81.3%; OR 0.72, 95% CI 0.17-3.06). Conclusion: Among French physiotherapists treating patients after ACLR, database use is common but confidence and formal training in interprofessional communication was limited, despite the frequent use of interprofessional communication methods. Findings support targeted continuing education focused on medical database searching and critical appraisal, and structured communication pathways between physiotherapists and other clinicians involved in ACLR care. Results are preliminary and should be considered as hypothesis-generating given the modest, regionally constrained sample. Level of Evidence: 3 (Cross-sectional survey).

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