Session Information
Session Type: Abstract Submissions (ARHP)
Background/Purpose
Community resources such as evidence-based physical activity (PA) and self-management education (SME) programs, with their documented health benefits, can complement clinical care. These clinical-community linkages can be strengthened by Physical Therapists (PTs) awareness and recommendation of these resources to their patients. The purpose of this study was to explore PTs awareness of, and attitudes towards the use of arthritis-appropriate PA and SME programs, and factors that would influence their decision and facilitate a recommendation of these programs to their patients.
Methods
A stratified random sample of 10,000 members from the geriatrics, home health, orthopedics, and private practice sections of American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) received e-mail invitations to participate in an on-line survey exploring awareness of and preferences related to evidence-based community PA and SME programs. Inclusion criteria included PTs in clinical practice with > 50% adult patients. The survey questions and response options were based on earlier qualitative interviews and refined through pilot-testing.
Results
1180 PTs responded to the invitation (response rate 11.6%), 84% of respondents met eligibility criteria; a total of 973 PTs participated in the survey. 67% of PTs surveyed were aware of some PA programs in the community; only 22% were aware of community SME programs. Willingness to refer to evidence-based programs was high (over 90% were somewhat or very likely to refer to PA and SME programs). PTs preferred to learn about these resources via means they can access at their convenience (e-mail-82%, website-51%, direct mail-42%). The tool considered most helpful to facilitate a recommendation was patient handout materials (84%); the most desired patient materials were pamphlets (86%), flyers (57%), and website (57%). 81% would provide information about evidence-based community programs both during treatment and at discharge. Preferred sources of information were APTA (91%) and Arthritis Foundation (68%).
Types of information PTs needed to recommend a community program differed somewhat by program type. For both PA and SME programs, opportunity for post therapy PA (74%, 75% respectively), offered by credible organizations (76%, 69%), and evidence-base (71%, 69%) were important. For PA programs, coverage of techniques to exercise safely (81%), and certified instructors (77%) were most critical; for SME programs, helping patients take an active role in managing their chronic condition (75%) was essential.
Conclusion
Although awareness of PA and SME programs differed by program type, large number of PTs expressed willingness to recommend arthritis-appropriate evidence-based programs in the community, both during therapy and at discharge. PTs need patient materials to facilitate these recommendations, preferably brochures, flyers, or website. Preferred channel to receive program information was via website. These results can be used to shape methods, materials, and messages to encourage PTs to recommend evidence-based community programs and improve patient outcomes.
Disclosure:
J. Hefelfinger,
None;
T. J. Brady,
None;
J. Berktold,
None;
M. Goldstein,
None;
E. Bonilla,
None;
M. Brick,
None;
E. Odom,
None;
A. Oliver,
None;
P. Cowan,
None.
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ACR Meeting Abstracts - https://acrabstracts.org/abstract/reaching-out-to-physical-therapists-results-of-a-survey-on-physical-therapists-preferences-for-learning-about-evidence-based-community-programs/