PhysiotherapyASTEROIDNCT06605040
Scientific Content Disseminated Via Social Media for Physiotherapists
A study testing Dissemination via Social Media and Dissemination via Email in people with Physiotherapy, run by Universidade Federal de Santa Maria at 1 site in Brazil.
Trial summary
This study is designed to assess how effective social media is in disseminating scientific knowledge to physiotherapists in Brazil. The trial will include physiotherapists who treat at least three patients weekly and regularly use Instagram and WhatsApp. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Any age
- Conditions the study is for
- Physiotherapy
- What is being tested?
- Dissemination via Social Media and Dissemination via Email
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 120 participants
- Where
- 1 siteBrazil
- Study dates
- 1 Nov 2024to Aug 2025
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- Not yet: the study is under way
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages Any age
- All sexes
- No healthy volunteers
- Child, Adult, Older adult
Who may be able to join
- Physiotherapists practicing in Brazil
- Involvement in the rehabilitation of at least three patients per week
- Having access to the social media platforms Instagram and WhatsApp at least once daily on most days of a typical week
Who cannot join
None listed.
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country.
Brazil1 site
Federal University of Santa Maria
Santa Maria, Rio Grande do Sul, 97105-900
About this study
Official title: Audiovisual Materials Disseminated Via Social Media Targeting Evidence-based Rehabilitation Implementation for Physiotherapists
This study is designed to assess how effective social media is in disseminating scientific knowledge to physiotherapists in Brazil. The trial will include physiotherapists who treat at least three patients weekly and regularly use Instagram and WhatsApp. Participants will be randomly assigned to one of two groups: the experimental group will receive scientific content through Instagram, while the control group will receive the same content via email. Both groups will engage with the material for 10 weeks.
The scientific content covers seven key topics related to physiotherapy, such as musculoskeletal and sport rehabilitation, and will be tailored to clinical practice. For the Instagram group, content will be shared via posts, stories, and reels, while the email group will receive summaries and links to full articles. The study aims to evaluate the impact of these interventions on participants\' engagement with scientific content and its application to clinical practice.
Key outcomes will include the effectiveness of knowledge dissemination, participant feedback on the audiovisual content, and qualitative insights from interviews. The study will follow a specific timeline, with reassessment three months after the intervention to gauge long-term effects. Data will be analyzed using both quantitative and qualitative methods, ensuring a comprehensive understanding of the intervention\'s reach and feasibility.
Read the detailed description
This protocol details a randomized, single-blind controlled trial to assess how effectively scientific content can be disseminated to Brazilian physiotherapists using social media (Instagram). The study will follow physiotherapists who treat at least three patients per week and use Instagram and WhatsApp regularly. These participants will be randomized into two groups: an experimental group receiving content via Instagram and a control group receiving the same information via email.
The study will focus on seven areas relevant to physiotherapy practice, including musculoskeletal rehabilitation, cardiovascular care, and women's health. The content, developed using scientific articles, will be shared daily over 10 weeks. For the Instagram group, the content will be presented through various formats like posts, stories, and reels, with visually engaging elements to boost retention. The email group will receive daily summaries of the articles, similar to a journal-style format.
To maintain participant engagement, both groups will receive weekly summaries, and participants will be assessed on how well they apply the scientific content in practice. The primary outcomes include the effectiveness of content dissemination, participant engagement, and knowledge retention, evaluated through surveys, interviews, and technical assessments. Qualitative interviews will explore participants' experiences, and the quality of the audiovisual materials used will be rated by participants.
The trial will last for 10 weeks, followed by an additional week for reassessment and a three-month follow-up. Data will be analyzed quantitatively to measure the reach and effectiveness of the interventions, with feasibility analyzed using the RE-AIM framework. Qualitative data will be analyzed through thematic analysis, ensuring an in-depth understanding of the intervention's success. This study aims to offer insights into the best methods for delivering scientific knowledge to healthcare professionals via digital platforms.
- Conditions
- Physiotherapy
- Being tested
- Dissemination via Social Media, Dissemination via Email
- Keywords
- Knowledge translation, continuous education, evidence-based practice
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Dissemination via Social MediaOther
Participants in the experimental group will follow a scientific Instagram profile where content will be shared. The profile will remain open, allowing permanent access to all posts. To optimize Instagram\'s algorithm, we will use an existing active profile. Any control group participants already following the profile will be removed upon allocation.
For each selected article, we will create three presentations using Instagram features like carousel images and short videos, shared as posts, stories, and reels. This strategy will provide content for 30 weeks of daily posts. Each post will feature visually appealing graphics to convey scientific information and support evidence-based practice (EBP) competencies.
Dissemination via EmailOther
The participant allocated to the control group will receive a different summary each day, along with a link to the full article. This strategy was chosen to replicate the approach used by scientific journals to disseminate new issues.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Social Media | Experimental | The group will receive scientific content via social media Receives: Other: Dissemination via Social Media |
| Active comparator | The group will receive scientific content via email Receives: Other: Dissemination via Email |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Use of scientific information to make clinical decisions
Participants should indicate their level using a scale 0-10 points (0 = I do not use; 10 = I only make clinical decisions using the best available evidence)
Measured: Baseline and the end of treatment at 10 weeks
Understanding of scientific information interpretation for application in clinical practice
Participants should indicate their level using a scale 0-10 points (0 = I do not understand; 10 = I have a complete understanding to apply scientific findings in clinical practice)
Measured: Baseline and the end of treatment at 10 weeks
Motivation to search for scientific information that could support clinical decisions
Participants should indicate their level using a scale 0-10 points (0 = I have no motivation; 10 = I am completely motivated)
Measured: Baseline and the end of treatment at 10 weeks
Importance of scientific information in making clinical decisions
Participants should indicate their level using a scale 0-10 points (0 = No importance; 10 = Extremely important)
Measured: Baseline and the end of treatment at 10 weeks
Barriers to applying scientific findings
Participants will describe their barriers to applying scientific findings in clinical practice and the number of barriers reported will be considered for analysis
Measured: Baseline and the end of treatment at 10 weeks
Evidence-Based Practice Questionnaire (EBPQ)
The EBPQ evaluates EBP competencies and has 24 items scored using a 7-point Likert scale (1-7 points); mean of the items will be used for analysis
Measured: Baseline and the end of treatment at 10 weeks
Overcoming the reported barriers
Participants will be asked whether the program helped to overcome the reported barriers (yes or no answer)
Measured: End of treatment at 10 weeks
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted20 Sep 2024
- Study start1 Nov 2024
- Primary completionJun 2025 (estimated)
- Study completionAug 2025 (estimated)
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for PhysiotherapyStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase N/A
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Single blind
- Who is masked
- Outcomes assessor
- Enrolment
- 120 participants (estimated)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Universidade Federal de Santa Maria
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Guilherme Nunes, Universidade Federal de Santa Maria
- Investigators
- Guilherme S Nunes, PhD, Principal investigator, Universidade Federal de Santa Maria
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT06605040
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- 4.033.967
- Acronym
- ASTEROID
- Status last verified
- Apr 2025
- First submitted
- 15 Sep 2024
- Last updated
- 8 Apr 2025
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- No
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 8 Apr 2025. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Audiovisual Materials Disseminated Via Social Media Targeting Evidence-based Rehabilitation Implementation for Physiotherapists
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT06605040
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- ASTEROID / 4.033.967
- Conditions
- Physiotherapy
- Keywords
- Knowledge translation, continuous education, evidence-based practice
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Active, not recruiting
- Enrolment
- 120 participants (estimated)
- Lead sponsor
- Universidade Federal de Santa MariaUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 1 Nov 2024 (actual)
- Primary completion
- Jun 2025 (estimated)
- Study completion
- Aug 2025 (estimated)
- First posted
- 20 Sep 2024 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
This study is designed to assess how effective social media is in disseminating scientific knowledge to physiotherapists in Brazil. The trial will include physiotherapists who treat at least three patients weekly and regularly use Instagram and WhatsApp. Participants will be randomly assigned to one of two groups: the experimental group will receive scientific content through Instagram, while the control group will receive the same content via email. Both groups will engage with the material for 10 weeks.
The scientific content covers seven key topics related to physiotherapy, such as musculoskeletal and sport rehabilitation, and will be tailored to clinical practice. For the Instagram group, content will be shared via posts, stories, and reels, while the email group will receive summaries and links to full articles. The study aims to evaluate the impact of these interventions on participants\' engagement with scientific content and its application to clinical practice.
Key outcomes will include the effectiveness of knowledge dissemination, participant feedback on the audiovisual content, and qualitative insights from interviews. The study will follow a specific timeline, with reassessment three months after the intervention to gauge long-term effects. Data will be analyzed using both quantitative and qualitative methods, ensuring a comprehensive understanding of the intervention\'s reach and feasibility.
Detailed description
This protocol details a randomized, single-blind controlled trial to assess how effectively scientific content can be disseminated to Brazilian physiotherapists using social media (Instagram). The study will follow physiotherapists who treat at least three patients per week and use Instagram and WhatsApp regularly. These participants will be randomized into two groups: an experimental group receiving content via Instagram and a control group receiving the same information via email.
The study will focus on seven areas relevant to physiotherapy practice, including musculoskeletal rehabilitation, cardiovascular care, and women's health. The content, developed using scientific articles, will be shared daily over 10 weeks. For the Instagram group, the content will be presented through various formats like posts, stories, and reels, with visually engaging elements to boost retention. The email group will receive daily summaries of the articles, similar to a journal-style format.
To maintain participant engagement, both groups will receive weekly summaries, and participants will be assessed on how well they apply the scientific content in practice. The primary outcomes include the effectiveness of content dissemination, participant engagement, and knowledge retention, evaluated through surveys, interviews, and technical assessments. Qualitative interviews will explore participants' experiences, and the quality of the audiovisual materials used will be rated by participants.
The trial will last for 10 weeks, followed by an additional week for reassessment and a three-month follow-up. Data will be analyzed quantitatively to measure the reach and effectiveness of the interventions, with feasibility analyzed using the RE-AIM framework. Qualitative data will be analyzed through thematic analysis, ensuring an in-depth understanding of the intervention's success. This study aims to offer insights into the best methods for delivering scientific knowledge to healthcare professionals via digital platforms.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Single blind (outcomes assessor)
- Number of arms
- 2
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Social Media | Experimental | Other: Dissemination via Social MediaThe group will receive scientific content via social media |
| Active comparator | Other: Dissemination via EmailThe group will receive scientific content via email |
Who may qualify
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Age groups
- Child, Adult, Older adult
Key inclusion criteria (3 listed)
- Physiotherapists practicing in Brazil
- Involvement in the rehabilitation of at least three patients per week
- Having access to the social media platforms Instagram and WhatsApp at least once daily on most days of a typical week
Key exclusion criteria (0 listed)
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| Dissemination via Social MediaParticipants in the experimental group will follow a scientific Instagram profile where content will be shared. The profile will remain open, allowing permanent access to all posts. To optimize Instagram\'s algorithm, we will use an existing active profile. Any control group participants already following the profile will be removed upon allocation. For each selected article, we will create three presentations using Instagram features like carousel images and short videos, shared as posts, stories, and reels. This strategy will provide content for 30 weeks of daily posts. Each post will feature visually appealing graphics to convey scientific information and support evidence-based practice (EBP) competencies. | Other | Social Media |
| Dissemination via EmailThe participant allocated to the control group will receive a different summary each day, along with a link to the full article. This strategy was chosen to replicate the approach used by scientific journals to disseminate new issues. | Other |
Primary outcome
Use of scientific information to make clinical decisions
Time frame: Baseline and the end of treatment at 10 weeks
Participants should indicate their level using a scale 0-10 points (0 = I do not use; 10 = I only make clinical decisions using the best available evidence)
Understanding of scientific information interpretation for application in clinical practice
Time frame: Baseline and the end of treatment at 10 weeks
Participants should indicate their level using a scale 0-10 points (0 = I do not understand; 10 = I have a complete understanding to apply scientific findings in clinical practice)
Motivation to search for scientific information that could support clinical decisions
Time frame: Baseline and the end of treatment at 10 weeks
Participants should indicate their level using a scale 0-10 points (0 = I have no motivation; 10 = I am completely motivated)
Importance of scientific information in making clinical decisions
Time frame: Baseline and the end of treatment at 10 weeks
Participants should indicate their level using a scale 0-10 points (0 = No importance; 10 = Extremely important)
Barriers to applying scientific findings
Time frame: Baseline and the end of treatment at 10 weeks
Participants will describe their barriers to applying scientific findings in clinical practice and the number of barriers reported will be considered for analysis
Evidence-Based Practice Questionnaire (EBPQ)
Time frame: Baseline and the end of treatment at 10 weeks
The EBPQ evaluates EBP competencies and has 24 items scored using a 7-point Likert scale (1-7 points); mean of the items will be used for analysis
Overcoming the reported barriers
Time frame: End of treatment at 10 weeks
Participants will be asked whether the program helped to overcome the reported barriers (yes or no answer)
Results and safety
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 8 Apr 2025.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: No
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part. This study is not recruiting at the moment.
Guilherme S Nunes, PhD principal investigator
Universidade Federal de Santa Maria
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Dissemination via Social Media and Dissemination via Email in people with Physiotherapy, run by Universidade Federal de Santa Maria at 1 site in Brazil.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 3 inclusion and 0 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: under way, not looking for participants, as of the sponsor's last update on 8 Apr 2025. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 1 site in Brazil. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Use of scientific information to make clinical decisions (time frame: Baseline and the end of treatment at 10 weeks). The study lists 7 primary outcomes in all. It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 8 Apr 2025.