Trends in physiotherapy research in South Africa 1980-1989

Abstract

A survey of the main papers published in the South African Journal of Physiotherapy over the past 10 years (1980 to 1989) was conducted to establish the trends in research methodology, subject topic and qualifications of the first authors. It was found that there is a significant increase in the number of experimental trials used and a similar decrease in the number of surveys conducted from the first to the second five-year periods (1980 to 1984 and 1985 to 1989). Statistical analyses of data were more often used in the second period. There is a marked increase in the number of articles on education/administration in the second period. In this period from 1985 to 1989, there are fewer first authors with a Diploma in Physiotherapy only, a medical degree or a technical qualification, while there are more first authors with postgraduate qualifications. These findings support the observation that there is a growing awareness of the need for a more scientific approach to Physiotherapy research.