Publication Trends in The SA Journal o f Physiotherapy fo r the Decade 1985 - 1 9 9 4 ■ ABW Dladla, final year physiotherapy student ■ L Gumede, senior lecturer, Physiotherapy department ■ J Lin PhD, senior research scientist, Microbiology ■ T Puckree PhD, senior lecturer, Physiotherapy department U niversity o f D urban-W estville Introduction T h e S o u t h A f r i c a n J o u r n a l o f P h y s i o t h e r a p y is a f o r u m fo r S o u t h A f r i c a n p h y s i o t h e r a p i s t s to s h a r e t h e i r r e s e a r c h f i n d i n g s , a d ­ v a n c e s in c l i n i c a l p r a c t i c e a n d e d u c a t i o n , n e w t e c h n i q u e s a nd ' a b s t r a c t ^ The primary purpose of this study was to determ ine trends in the types and first authorship of articles that appeared in the South African Journal of Physiotherapy for the decade, 1985-1994. All 140 articles in the 40 issues of the South African Journal of Physiotherapy for the decade were classified as either research or non-research articles. Research articles using qualitative m ethodologies were distinguished from those with quantitative ones. First authors of the articles were classified as either physiotherapy academ ics, physiotherapy students, clinicians or non­ physiotherapists. The results show no significant difference in the num ­ ber of research vs. non-research articles published for the decade. More non-research articles were published in the first five year period while research articles predom inated in the second five year period. Quantita­ tive studies using the experim ental method appeared significantly more often in the first five years com pared to the second five year period.T he majority of the papers were first authored by physiotherapists especially academics. M ethodologies and first authorship of papers published in the South African Journal of Physiotherapy revealed an interesting trend, thereby providing clues to growth points and deficits within the profes­ s i o n . __________________________ _______________________________ ^ ABSTRAK ^ Die vernaam ste doel van hierdie studie was om die neiging in die tipe en eerste outeurskap van die artikels wat in die Suid Afrikaanse Tydskrif van Fisioterapie vir die dekade 1985-1994, verskyn het, te bepaal. Al 140 artikels in die 40 uitgawes van die tydskrif vir die dekade was as navorsing of nie-navorsing artikels geklassifiseer. Navorsing artikels wat kwaliteit-m etodiek gebruik het was onderskei van die wat hoeveelheid- metodiek gebruik het. Eerste skrywers van die artikels was as fisioterapie a k a d e m ik u s , fis io te r a p ie s tu d e n t, k lin ie s e fis io te ra p e u t of nie- fisioterapeut geklassifiseer. Die uitslag bewys geen belangrike verskil in die nom m er van navorsing teen nie-navorsing artikels gepubliseer vir die dekade nie. Meer nie-navorsing artikels was in die eerste vyf-jaar periode gepubliseer terwyl navorsing artikels in die meerderheid was in die tweede vyf-jaar periode. H oeveelheid-studies wat die experimentele- metodiek gebruik het, het m eer in die eerste vyf jaar verskyn as vergelyk word met die tweede vyf-jaar periode. Die meeste van die artikels was eerste deur 'n fisioterapie akadem ikus geskryf. Metodiek en eerste outeurskap het ’n interessante neiging getoon, en daardeur leidrade vir ^ve rbouingspunte en tekorte in die beroep verskaf.__________________ a p p r o a c h e s w i t h t h ei r c o l l e a g u e s . T h e J o u r n a l t h e r e f o r e s h o u l d r e f l e c t t h e s t a n d a r d o f p h y s i o t h e r a p y e d u c a t i o n , r e s e a r c h a n d p r a c t i c e , in th is c o u n t r y . C o n c e r n h a s b e e n e x p r e s s e d b y m e m b e r s o f t h e p r o f e s s i o n a b o u t c o n t r i b u t i o n s m a d e to t h e J o u r n a l b y p h y s i o t h e r a p i s t s 1 a n d t h a t t h e c o n t e n t s o f t h e J o u r n a l d o e s n o t r e a l l y r e f l e c t t h e s t a n d a r d s o f p h y s i o t h e r a p y in S o u t h A f r i c a . H o w e v e r , s i n c e t he J o u r n a l is t h e o n l y f o r m o f c o m m u n i c a t i o n b e t w e e n t h e p r o f e s s i o n a n d t h e o u t s i d e w o r l d , it is i m p e r a t i v e t h a t a cr i t i ca l r e v i e w o f p u b l i c a t i o n t r e n d s w i t h i n t h e J o u r n a l f o r m s o n e s t a r t i n g p o i n t o f a s s e s s i n g t h e g r o w t h o f th e p r o f e s s i o n . S i n c e t h e g r o w t h o f a n y p r o f e s s i o n d e p e n d s o n t h e a b i l i t y o f t h e p r o f e s s i o n to v a l i d a t e c l i n i c a l p r a c t i c e a n d e d u c a t i o n a l m e t h o d s t h r o u g h o b j e c t i v e s c i e n t i f i c r e s e a r c h , t h e c o n t e n t s o f t h e J o u r n a l s h o u l d p r o v i d e v a l u a b l e c l u e s a b o u t t h e d i r e c t i o n in w h i c h t h e p r o f e s s i o n is m o v i n g . P r e v i o u s r e s e a r c h b y M i t c h e l l 2,3 s u g g e s t s t h a t t h e m a j o r i t y ( 6 9 % — 7 5 % ) o f t h e p a p e r s p u b l i s h e d b e t w e e n 1 9 8 4 - 1 9 8 8 , a n d 1 9 8 0 - 1 9 8 9 w e r e d e s c r i p t i v e in n a t u r e . M i t c h e l l 2 c l a s s i f i e d a n - a r t i c l e a s d e s c r i p t i v e if it w a s p r i n c i p a l l y a d e s c r i p ­ ti o n o f a t e c h n i q u e , c a s e s t u d y o r b a s i c p r i n c i p l e s . S i n c e a c a s e s t u d y is a f o r m o f q u a l i t a t i v e r e s e a r c h m e t h o d , M i t c h e l l ' s 2'3 f i n d ­ i n g s d o n o t r e a l l y p r o v i d e a n y i n f o r m a t i o n a b o u t t h e t y p e s o f a r t i c l e s i.e. q u a l i t a t i v e 4, ( s u r v e y , c a s e s t u d y e t c. ) v s . q u a n t i t a ­ t iv e 4,5 ( e x p e r i m e n t a l , c l i n i c a l ) vs. n o n - r e s e a r c h a r t i c l e s a p p e a r i n g in t h e S o u t h A f r i c a n J o u r n a l o f P h y s i o t h e r a p y . M i t c h e l l ' s s t u d i e s a l s o c a t e g o r i s e d t h e a u t h o r s o f t h e a r t i c l e s in t h e S o u t h A f r i c a n J o u r n a l o f P h y s i o t h e r a p y . It is c l e a r in h e r s t u d i e s t h a t t h e m a j o r i t y o f t h e a r t i c l e s in t h e S o u t h A f r i c a n J o u r n a l o f P h y s i o t h e r a p y f o r t h e d e c a d e 1 9 8 0 - 1 9 8 9 w e r e a u t h o r e d b y p h y s i o t h e r a p y a c a d e m i c i a n s . H o w e v e r , it is n o t k n o w n w h e t h e r t hi s t r e n d c o n t i n u e d b e y o n d 1 9 8 9 . T h e p r i m a r y p-ur po se o f t he p r e s e n t s t u d y w a s to c r i t i c a l l y c a t e g o r i s e t h e a r t i c l e s a p p e a r i n g in t h e S o u t h A f r i c a n J o u r n a l o f P h y s i o t h e r a p y in t e r m s o f q u a l i t a t i v e , q u a n t i t a t i v e a n d n o n - r e - s e a r c h a r t i c l e s in o r d e r to d e t e r m i n e t r e n d s in p u b l i c a t i o n o f t he d e c a d e 1 9 8 5 - 1 9 9 4 . S e c o n d l y to d e t e r m i n e w h o t h e fi r st a u t h o r s o f t h e p u b l i c a t i o n s w e r e in o r d e r t o d e t e r m i n e w h e t h e r p u b l i c a t i o n in t h e J o u r n a l is s u p p o r t e d a n d s u s t a i n e d b y m e m b e r s o f t he p r o f e s s i o n . Materials and Methods Sample T h e s a m p l e c o n s i s t e d o f all a r t i c l e s (n = 1 4 0 ) a p p e a r i n g in the S o u t h A f r i c a n J o u r n a l o f P h y s i o t h e r a p y f o r t h e d e c a d e 1 9 8 5 - 1 9 9 4 . A l l r e p o r t s o f s p e c i a l i n t e r e s t g r o u p s o r m e e t i n g s w e r e e x c l u d e d f r o m the a n a l y s i s . Methods A r t i c l e s w e r e c l a s s if i e d i n i t ia l l y a s r e s e a r c h o r n o n - r e s e a r c h . R e s e a r c h a r t i c l e s w e r e t h o s e a r t i c l e s t h a t u s e d s o m e ki nd o f r e ­ s e a r c h m e t h o d o l o g y , q u a l i t a t i v e o r q u a n t i t a t i v e 4, . N o n - r e s e a r c h a r t i c l e s w e r e t h o s e a r t i c l e s t h a t g a v e a d e s c r i p t i o n o f a t e c h n i q u e , a p p r o a c h , o r g a v e m o r e i n f o r m a t i o n a b o u t a s u b j e c t , i n c l u d i n g r e v i e w p a p e r s . R e s e a r c h a r t i c l e s w e r e f u r t h e r c l a s s i f i e d a s q u a l i ­ t a t i v e ( s u r v e y o r c a s e s t u d y ) o r q u a n t i t a t i v e ( e x p e r i m e n t a l o r B la d s y 14 F e b r u a r ie 1997 SA T y d s k rif F is io te r a p ie , D e e l 5 3 N o 1 R ep ro du ce d by S ab in et G at ew ay u nd er li ce nc e gr an te d by th e P ub lis he r (d at ed 2 01 3. ) cl i n i c a l s t u d i e s ) 4'5. F irs t a u t h o r s o f p a p e r s w e r e c a t e g o r i s e d as a c a d e m i c i a n s , c l i n i c i a n s , p h y s i o t h e r a p y s t u d e n t s a n d o t h e r s ( t h o s e w h o w e r e n o t p h y s i o t h e r a p i s t s ) . O n l y fi r st a u t h o r s w e r e i n c l u d e d in t h e a n a l y s i s b e c a u s e p r e s u m a b l y th is a u t h o r m o t i ­ v a t e d t h e p u b l i c a t i o n in t h e fir st i n s t a n c e . Data Analysis T h e d a t a a b o u t t y p e o f a r t i c l e a n d fir st a u t h o r w e r e t a b u l a t e d f o r e a c h y e a r a n d m e a n s c a l c u l a t e d for e a c h f iv e y e a r p e r i o d , ( 1 9 8 5 - 1 9 8 9 ) a n d ( 1 9 9 0 - 1 9 9 4 ) a n d for t h e d e c a d e 1 9 8 5 - 1 9 9 4 . M e a n s w e r e u s e d to d e t e r m i n e w h e t h e r a n y d i f f e r e n c e s in p u b l i c a t i o n t r e n d s o r fir st a u t h o r s h i p e x i s t e d b e t w e e n t h e e a r l i e r a n d l a t e r fiv e y e a r p e r i o d s c o m p a r e d to t h e ten y e a r p e r i o d . I n d e p e n d e n t t w o ta iled T - t e s t s w e r e u s e d to d e t e r m i n e s i g n i f i c a n t d i f f e r e n c e s b e ­ t w e e n t he n u m b e r s o f r e s e a r c h a n d n o n - r e s e a r c h ar t i c l e s , q u a l i t a ­ t iv e vs. q u a n t i t a t i v e r e s e a r c h a n d fi r st a u t h o r p h y s i o t h e r a p y a c a ­ d e m i c i a n s vs . f ir s t a u t h o r n o n - p h y s i o t h e r a p i s t s . P r o b a b i l i t y w a s s e t a t 0.0 5 . Results T a b le 1. T re n d in t y p e o f a r t ic le Year Research N on-research To tal n % n % n % 1985 10 53 9 47 19 1986 7 47 8 53 15 1987 4 25 12 75 16 19B8 5 29 12 70 17 19B9 5 42 7 58 12 1990 9 64 5 36 14 1991 7 70 3 30 10 1992 8 80 2 20 10 1993 10 83 2 17 12 1994 10 67 5 33 15 Total 75 53 65 47 140 100 1985 - 1989 31 39* 4B 61 79 100 1 9 9 0 - 1994 44 7 2 " 17 2B 61 100 * Number of research articles significantly less that non- esearch articles * * Number o l research articles significantly greater than p < 0.05 non-research articles A s s h o w n in T a b l e I a tot al o f 1 4 0 a r t i c l e s w e r e p u b l i s h e d in t h e 4 0 i s s u e s o f t he S o u t h A f r i c a n J o u r n a l o f P h y s i o t h e r a p y f o r t h e d e c a d e 1 9 8 5 - 1 9 9 4 . N u m b e r s o f r e s e a r c h vs. n o n - r e s e a r c h a r t i c l e s f l u c t u a t e d p e r y e a r . O v e r t he 1 0 y e a r p e r i o d , 1 9 8 5 - 1 9 9 4 , t he n u m ­ b e r s o f r e s e a r c h a r t i c l e s p u b l i s h e d w a s n o t s i g n i f i c a n t l y d i f f e r e n t f r o m t h a t o f n o n - r e s e a r c h a r t i c l e s . H o w e v e r , f o r t he fi r st f iv e y e a r p e r io d ( 1 9 8 5 - 1 9 8 9 ) , a s i g n i f i c a n t l y g r e a t e r n u m b e r o f n o n - r e s e a r c h a r t i c l e s a p p e a r e d in t h e J o u r n a l . T h i s t re n d w a s r e v e r s e d in the s e c o n d f iv e y e a r p e r i o d w h e n s i g n i f i c a n t l y m o r e r e s e a r c h a r t i c l e s w e r e p u b l i s h e d c o m p a r e d to t h a t o f n o n - r e s e a r c h p a p e r s . A b r e a k d o w n o f r e s e a r c h a r t i c l e s i n t o q u a l i t a t i v e a n d q u a n t i t a ­ ti v e m e t h o d o l o g i e s a s d e m o n s t r a t e d in T a b l e II s h o w s t h a t fo r t he d e c a d e u n d e r s t u d y , t h e n u m b e r o f p a p e r s w i t h q u a n t i t a t i v e m e t h o d o l o g i e s w a s n o t s i g n i f i c a n t l y d i f f e r e n t f r o m t h o s e p a p e r s w h i c h u t il is ed q u a l i t a t i v e m e t h o d o l o g i e s . H o w e v e r , in t h e fir st f i v e y e a r p e r i o d ( 1 9 8 5 - 1 9 8 9 ) s i g n i f i c a n t l y m o r e q u a n t i t a t i v e p a ­ p e r s w e r e p u b l i s h e d c o m p a r e d to q u a l i t a t i v e p a p e r s . T h e m a j o r i t y o f q u a n t i t a t i v e p a p e r s w e r e e x p e r i m e n t a l in n a t u r e . In t h e s e c o n d fi v e y e a r p e r i o d ( 1 9 9 0 - 1 9 9 4 ) e q u a l n u m b e r s o f q u a l i t a t i v e a n d q u a n t i t a t i v e p a p e r s w e r e p u b l i s h e d in t h e J o u r n a l . T h e m a j o r i t y o f t h e q u a l i t a t i v e p a p e r s u t i l i s e d t h e s u r v e y m e t h o d to c o l l e c t d a t a w h i l e t he e x p e r i m e n t a l m e t h o d o l o g y d o m i n a t e d t h e q u a n t i t a t i v e p a p e r s . T a b le I I . T re n d in t y p e o f re s e a rc h a r t ic le Year Q u a lita tiv e Q u a n tita tiv e T o ta l Survey n % Case s tu d y n % Clinical n % E x p e rim e n ta l n & n 1985 4 40 1 10 0 5 50 10 1986 2 29 0 1 14 4 57 7 1987 1 25 0 2 50 1 25 4 1988 1 20 1 20 0 3 60 5 1989 2 40 0 0 3 60 5 1990 4 44 0 2 27 3 33 9 1991 4 57 1 14 . 0 2 29 7 1992 1 12.5 0 0 7 87.5 8 1993 6 60 1 10 0 3 30 10 1994 5 50 0 0 5 50 10 Tolal 30 40 4 5 5 7 36 4B 75 1985-1989 10 32 2 6 3 10 16 52 31 1990-1994 20 45.5 2 4.5 2 4.5 20 45 44 1985-1989 12(39% )* 19(61%) 31 1990-1994 22 (50) 22(50% ) 44 1985-1994 34 (45%0 41 (55%) 75 * Number of qualitative articles significantly less than quantitative research articles p < 0.05 ' T a b le I I I . T re n d in f i r s t a u t h o r s h ip o f a r t ic le s Y ear Academic S tudent Clinician O th e r T o ta l n % n % n % n % 1985 9 47 1 5 3 16 6 32 19 1986 5 33 0 4 27 6 40 15 1987 2 13 1 6 5 31 B 50 16 1988 3 18 2 12 5 29 7 41 17 1989 9 76 1 8 1 8 1 8 12 1990 5 36 2 14 4 29 3 21 14 1991 7 70 1 10 1 10 1 10 10 1992 4 40 1 10 2 20 3 30 10 1993 6 50 2 17 0 4 33 12 1994 B 53 1 7 1 7 5 33 15 Tolal 58 41 12 8.5 26 18.5 44 32 140 1985-1989 28 35.5 5 6.5 18 23.4 28 35.4 79 1990-1994 30 49* 7 12 8 13 16 26 61 19B5-1994 96 (68%)** 44 32 140 1985-1989 51 (64.5%)** 28 35.4 79 1990-1994 4 5 (7 % )*’ 16 26 61 * Articles by academics significantly greater than by non-physiotherapists * * Significant difference between articles by physiotherapists vs. non-physiotherapists p < 0.05 T a b l e III s h o w s t h a t t he m a j o r i t y o f t h e p a p e r s p u b l i s h e d p e r y e a r f o r t h e d e c a d e 1 9 8 5 - 1 9 9 4 w e r e a u t h o r e d e i t h e r b y p h y s i o ­ t h e r a p y a c a d e m i c i a n s o r n o n - p h y s i o t h e r a p i s t s . H o w e v e r , f o r t he e n t i r e d e c a d e a n d t h e s e c o n d f i v e y e a r p e r i o d , a s i g n i f i c a n t l y g r e a t e r n u m b e r o f p a p e r s w e r e a u t h o r e d b y p h y s i o t h e r a p y a c a ­ d e m i c i a n s c o m p a r e d to a n y o t h e r c a t e g o r y o f a u t h o r . T h e f ir s t five y e a r p e r i o d s a w a n e q u a l n u m b e r o f p a p e r s a u t h o r e d b y p h y s i o ­ SA J o u r n a l P h y s io th e r a p y , V o l 5 3 N o 1 F e b r u a r y 1997 P a g e 15 R ep ro du ce d by S ab in et G at ew ay u nd er li ce nc e gr an te d by th e P ub lis he r (d at ed 2 01 3. ) t h e r a p y a c a d e m i c i a n s a n d n o n - p h y s i o t h e r a p i s t s . A c o l l a p s e o f a u t h o r c a t e g o r i e s i n t o p h y s i o t h e r a p i s t s c o m p a r e d w i t h n o n ­ p h y s i o t h e r a p y a u t h o r s s h o w e d s i g n i f i c a n t l y m o r e p a p e r s a u t h o r e d b y m e m b e r s o f t h e h o s t p r o f e s s i o n . Discussion T h e n u m b e r o f a r t i c l e s p u b l i s h e d o v e r e a c h fiv e y e a r p e r i o d an d th e d e c a d e c o m p a r e s f a v o u r a b l y w i t h t h a t o f o t h e r p h y s i o t h e r a p y p e r i o d i c a l s i n t h e r e s t o f t he w o r l d 6. P u b l i c a t i o n s i n t h e S o u t h A f r i c a n J o u r n a l o f P h y s i o t h e r a p y s h o w e d a t e n d e n c y to i n c l u d e m o r e r e s e a r c h a r t i c l e s c o m p a r e d to n o n - r e s e a r c h a r t i c l e s in t h e s e c o n d f i v e y e a r p e r i o d u n d e r s t u d y . T h i s t re n d is a c l e a r i n d i c a t i o n o f a n e v o l v i n g a n d g r o w i n g p r o ­ f e s s i o n . R o b e r t s o n 6 f o u n d a s i m i l a r t re n d in t h e A m e r i c a n J o u r n a l o f P h y s i c a l T h e r a p y , b u t t h e e v o l v e m e n t in P h y s i c a l T h e r a p y o c c u r r e d m a n y d e c a d e s e a r l i e r . A l t h o u g h q u a n t i t a t i v e m e t h o d ­ o l o g i e s p r e d o m i n a t e d in t he f ir s t f i v e y e a r p e r i o d , q u a l i t a t i v e p a p e r s a p p e a r e d m o r e f r e q u e n t l y in t h e s e c o n d fiv e y e a r p e r i o d . T h e m a j o r i t y o f t h e p a p e r s w e r e a u t h o r e d b y p h y s i o t h e r a p i s t s w i t h p h y s i o t h e r a p y a c a d e m i c i a n s c a r r y i n g t he l a r g e r l o ad . T h e r e s u l t s o f t h i s s t u d y c a n n o t b e d i r e c t l y c o m p a r e d to t h o s e p u b l i s h e d b y M i t c h e l l 2,3 b e c a u s e h e r c a t e g o r i s a t i o n o f a r t i c l e s w a s d i f f e r e n t f r o m t h e p r e s e n t s t u d y . T h e s e f i n d i n g s a d d to M i t c h e l l ' s r e s u l t s w h i c h r e v e a l s s o m e v e r y i m p o r t a n t a s p e c t s o f the p u b l i c a ­ t io n s w h i c h a p p e a r in t h e S o u t h A f r i c a n J o u r n a l o f P h y s i o t h e r a p y . T h e c a t e g o r i s a t i o n o f a r t i c l e s in t h e p r e s e n t s t u d y w a s f o c u s e d on d e t e r m i n i n g t h e s t a t u s o f r e s e a r c h in t h i s c o u n t r y w h i c h is r e ­ f le c t e d to s o m e e x t e n t in t h e p u b l i c a t i o n s w h i c h a p p e a r in t h e J o u r n a l o f P h y s i o t h e r a p y . T r e n d s i n t h e m e t h o d o l o g i e s u s e d w i l l h e l p to f o c u s b o t h t he p r o f e s s i o n a n d e d u c a t i o n a l i n s t i t u t i o n s t o w a r d s g o a l s s e t in t e r m s o f g r o w t h o f t h e p r o f e s s i o n . D o e s t he p r o f e s s i o n w a n t to s e e m o r e q u a l i t a t i v e r e s e a r c h w h i c h h a s its m e r i t s a n d p l a c e in p h y s i o t h e r a p y r e s e a r c h a n d in t h e n a t i o n a l h e a l t h p l a n o r d o e s it w a n t to s e e m o r e q u a n t i t a t i v e r e s e a r c h w h i c h w i l l h e l p t h e p r o f e s s i o n v a l i d a t e c l i n i c a l p r a c t i c e a n d b u i l d a s o l i d f o u n d a t i o n for t h e p r o f e s s i o n . A b a l a n c e b e t w e e n t h e t w o t y p e s o f r e s e a r c h t o g e t h e r w i t h s o m e i n f o r m a t i o n a l p a p e r s w h i c h a r e m o r e o f t he r e v i e w t y p e r a t h e r t h a t p e r s o n a l o p i n i o n s a b o u t s u b j e c t m a t t e r is l i k e l y to s t r e n g t h e n t h e p r o f e s s i o n a l b a s e o f k n o w l e d g e 6. B e e n h a k k e r i n d i c a t e d a n e e d f o r m o r e e x p e r i m e n t a l a n d c l i n i c a l t ria ls in p h y s i o t h e r a p y in S o u t h A f r i c a 1. O u r f i n d i n g s o f a s i g n i f i ­ c a n t l y g r e a t e r n u m b e r o f r e s e a r c h a r t i c l e s ( q u a l i t a t i v e a n d q u a n ­ t ita tiv e) o v e r t h a t o f n o n - r e s e a r c h a r t i c l e s s h o w s t h a t t h i s c h a n g e is t a k i n g p l a c e . T h e f l u c t u a t i o n b e t w e e n q u a l i t a t i v e a n d q u a n t i t a ­ tiv e p a p e r s b e t w e e n t he fi r st a n d s e c o n d f i v e y e a r p e r i o d s a n d the ten y e a r p e r i o d m a y i n d i c a t e t h a t t h e p r o f e s s i o n is s t i ll t r y i n g to a d d r e s s its s h o r t f a l l s p r o b a b l y in p o s t - g r a d u a t i o n e d u c a t i o n . A s f a r a s f ir s t a u t h o r s h i p o f a r t i c l e s a r e c o n c e r n e d o u r r e s u l t s s h o w a t r e n d w h i c h is n o t s i m i l a r to t h a t o f M i t c h e l l . T h e e a r l i e r f iv e y e a r p e r i o d ( 1 9 8 5 - 1 9 8 9 ) w h i c h is a l m o s t t h e s a m e a s th a t s t u d i e d b y M i t c h e l l s a w n o d i f f e r e n c e in t h e n u m b e r s o f p a p e r s a u t h o r e d b y p h y s i o t h e r a p y a c a d e m i c i a n s c o m p a r e d to n o n ­ p h y s i o t h e r a p i s t s . T h e s u b s e q u e n t f i v e y e a r p e r i o d a n d t h e d e c a d e s a w p h y s i o t h e r a p y a c a d e m i c i a n s r e s p o n s i b l e f o r t h e m a j o r i t y o f t he p u b l i c a t i o n s . T h i s s t u d y s h o w e d t h a t p h y s i o t h e r a p i s t s i n c l u d ­ i n g s t u d e n t s , a c a d e m i c i a n s a n d c l i n i c i a n s a r e m a k i n g a s i g n i f i c a n t c o n t r i b u t i o n to t he J o u r n a l o f P h y s i o t h e r a p y in t h i s c o u n t r y . Conclusion T h e f i n d i n g s o f th is s t u d y c o n f i r m a t re n d in t y p e a n d a u t h o r ­ s h i p o f a r t i c l e s th a t a p p e a r in t h e S o u t h A f r i c a n J o u r n a l o f P h y s i o ­ t h e r a p y f o r t h e d e c a d e 1 9 8 5 - 1 9 9 4 . T h e s e f i n d i n g s c a n b e u s e d a s a s t a r t i n g p o i n t to a d d r e s s t he s c i e n t i f i c g r o w t h o f t h e p r o f e s s i o n . T h e p e r i o d u n d e r r e v i e w is t he p e r i o d w h e n a l m o s t all t r a i n i n g c e n t r e s in t h i s c o u n t r y ha d r e p l a c e d t h e d i p l o m a in p h y s i o t h e r a p y w i t h a B a c h e l o r s d e g r e e . O n e o f t h e p r e r e q u i s i t e s f o r g r a d u a t i o n is a r e s e a r c h p r o j e c t . Is t h e p r o f e s s i o n r e a p i n g t h e b e n e f i t s o f a n i m p r o v e d c u r r i c u l u m in t h e B a c h e l o r s d e g r e e p r o g r a m m e ? A s in the U n i t e d S t a t e s 7, a g r o w t h i n q u a l i t y g r a d u a t e p r o g r a m m e s w i t h s t r o n g r e s e a r c h e m p h a s i s is l ik e l y to b e r e f l e c t e d i n t h e p u b l i c a t i o n t r e n d s in t he S o u t h A f r i c a n J o u r n a l o f P h y s i o t h e r a p y . F u r t h e r r e s e a r c h is n e e d e d , to l o o k i n t o t h e e f f e c t s o f s t r a t e g i e s i m p l e ­ m e n t e d b y t h e p r o f e s s i o n a n d e d u c a t i o n c e n t r e s o n t r e n d s in the J o u r n a l o f P h y s i o t h e r a p y . References 1. B e e n h a k k e r J. E d ito ria l. S / l jo u r n a l o f P h y s io th e r a p y 1 9 9 l;4 7 ( 4 ):6 2 . 2. M itch ell J. T re n d s in P h y s io th e ra p y r e s e a rc h in S o u th A fr ic a 1 9 8 0 -1 9 8 9 . S / l jo u r n a l o f P h y s io th e ra p y 1 9 9 0 ;4 6 (4 ):1 7 -2 0 . 3. M itc h e ll J. A S u r v e y o f R e s e a r c h P u b lic a t io n s in th e S o u th A frica n J o u rn a l o f P h y s io th e ra p y . S / l jo u r n a l o f P h y s io th e r a p y 1 9 9 0 ;4 6 (3 ):7 -1 0 . 4. P o lg a r S , T h o m a s S A . I n tro d u c tio n to R e s e a r c h in th e H e a lth S c ie n c e s . 3 rd e d itio n . L o n d o n : C h u r ch ill L iv in g s to n e , 1 9 9 5 :1 2 . 5. S la te r S B . T h e D e s ig n o f C lin ic a l R e s e a r c h . P lu/s T h c r 1 9 6 6 ;4 6 (3 ):2 6 5 -2 7 3 . 6. R o b e rts o n V J. A Q u a n tita tiv e A n a ly s is o f R e s e a r c h in P h y s ic a l T h e ra p y . Pln/s T h e r 1 9 9 5 ;7 5 (4 ):3 13-327. 7. R o b e rts o n V J. R e s e a r c h an d C u m u la tio n o f K n o w le d g e in P h y s ic a l T h e ra p y . Plnys T h e r 1 9 9 5 ;7 5 (3 ):2 2 3 -2 3 6 . O'Grady Peyton's unique USA Sponsorship Programme for Physiotherapists One w<^k