What is a consequence of not integrating EBP into PT practice?

• A. Reimbursement will automatically decrease due to lack of evidence.
• B. Patient safety is guaranteed without evidence.
• C. Interventions based on tradition may be ineffective, representing a consequence of not using EBP.
• D. Clinician burnout will automatically vanish.

Answer: (C)

Not integrating evidence-based practice means care may rely on tradition rather than proven effectiveness. When therapists choose interventions because they’ve always been done a certain way, they risk using options that haven’t been shown to work, which can lead to poorer patient outcomes, wasted resources, and less confidence in care. Evidence-based practice combines the best available research with clinical expertise and patient goals, so skipping that step leaves patients exposed to interventions whose benefits are uncertain.

Reimbursement does not automatically decrease just because evidence is lacking, since payer decisions depend on many factors and aren’t guaranteed by absence of evidence. Patient safety is not guaranteed without evidence; lacking proven support can increase risk. Clinician burnout is not guaranteed to vanish; it may persist if practice lacks support for applying evidence in real-world settings.