Qualitative research is evidence, too.

With the current emphasis on accountability for outcomes and the need for objective evaluation of efficacy of interventions, physiotherapists are increasingly using evidence from research as a source of information to support clinical decision making. The concept of evidencebased practice has been adopted widely in physiotherapy with much work devoted to encouraging the transfer of research results into clinical practice. Under the definition developed by Sackett et al (2000) – a group of clinical epidemiologists – evidence-based practice requires the integration of three components: patient values, clinical expertise, and best evidence from research. Best evidence from research is defined as ‘clinically relevant research... [about the] accuracy and precision of diagnostic tests, the power of prognostic markers, and the efficacy and safety of therapeutic, rehabilitative, and preventive regimens.’