1. Practical Evidence-Based Physiotherapy. Rob Herbert, Gro Jamtfedt, Judy Mead , Kare Birger Hagen. 2005, 234 pages, ISBN 0-75-068820-3. Butterworth Heinemann, soft cover. NZ$86.39

2. Guide to Evidence-Based Physical Therapy Practice. Dianne V Jewell. 2007, 480 pages, ISBN 978-0-7637-3443-5.

The aim of both these texts, written specifically for physiotherapists, is to facilitate the implementation and integration of evidence- based practice into everyday clinical practice. Both texts offer readers information and the tools required to understand what constitutes evidence, how to search efficiently for evidence, how to appraise the evidence once obtained and what the evidence, once evaluated, means to practice. As such, this means that much of the material is similar in both texts but the level of detail varies between them. As an example of this the chapters on searching the evidence, in both texts, cover in detail how to search the most common databases such as The Cochrane Library, PubMed, CINAHL and PEDro. These sections in either text will be very useful for novice researchers, clinicians and students as they lead the reader through searches in each database giving great tips for refining and advancing searches whilst using screenshots of searches within each database for ease of understanding. Jewells text (2), being North American, also considers the relatively new Hooked on Evidence, the American Physical Therapy Association Web site* a database little used by New Zealand physiotherapists. Both texts have useful addresses for databases, clinical guidelines websites, quality appraisal checklists and many others. Similarly both texts, written by physiotherapists for physiotherapists, use a wealth of useful and highly appropriate examples specific to physiotherapy taken, where possible, from the published literature, clinical scenarios and physiotherapy databases.

Herbert et als text (1) takes a systematic approach to the subject which leads the reader from the initial processes of determining what is evidence based practice, through asking/refining a research question, determining what constitutes evidence to answer the question, searching the available sources through to appraising the evidence to determine if it can be trusted, and considering what the evidence means to practice. The approach to this is by separately considering evidence of interventions, prognosis, experience, diagnostic tests and outcomes throughout the text. The extensive use of footnotes and text box summaries add a significant amount of information for more intermediate to advanced readers. This style makes for ease of reading for all levels of reader and the text is far more readable and user friendly than it perhaps at first appears. Overviews and chapter descriptions at the beginning of each chapter are useful but, nonetheless, this is not a book to quickly dip into, benefitting the reader more if the text is read in order. Whilst this text is primarily considerate of quantitative research it includes useful but not extensive sections on patient's experiences and qualitative approaches to research.

Jewells text (2) covers much of the same material, again considering evidence of interventions, prognosis, diagnosis and outcomes. There is, however, virtually no focus on qualitative research. The book is split neatly into 4 sections; principles of evidence based practice, elements of evidence which reviews the different components of research reports, appraising the evidence and evidence in practice. Each chapter is preceded by objectives and key terms which introduce the reader clearly into the chapter content. Each chapter is concluded by a series of self-assessment exercises related to the chapter content which usefully tests the readers understanding. Perhaps an appendix (or even a website) detailing the expected responses might be useful for the less confident reader. Once again this text is very readable and perhaps slightly easier to dip into than Herbert et al. Its major difference, however, are sections devoted to unravelling statistical mysteries which lead the reader into more detail of statistical testing often the most intimidating feature of research appraisal for the clinician. In addition, a final chapter allows the reader to put all the information together in a series of clinical examples which use a hypothetical patient example to search for and evaluate the evidence pertaining to a diagnostic test, an intervention, a prognosis and an outcome. At first glance this looks daunting but by following the text carefully the author develops the reader to the point at which this can be confidently understood. Finally an appendix which provides templates for critical appraisal tools in each of the above studies plus systematic reviews is a useful addition to a text which is highly recommended for those developing their understanding of using evidence based practice and how to apply it to their clinical practice.

To summarise, both of these texts are excellent reads; concise, informative and designed to take the fear out of understanding research and applying evidence based practice to the everyday workplace. Jewells (2) book develops statistical details and methods further and as such may suit postgraduate students more readily. There should be room on every physiotherapy department's bookshelf for each of these books which can be seen as complimentary in developing the skills of clinicians in this often daunting area. Highly recommended.

* http://www.hookedonevidence.com

Julie Reeve MSc (Physiotherapy), Grad Dip Phys, Senior Lecturer, School of Physiotherapy, Auckland University of Technology