Eigbogba B1, Lennon S1
1University of Ulster, Health Sciences, Antrim, United Kingdom
Background: Upper limb hemiparesis after stroke is a key impairment due to its significant impact on the patient's functional ability. Constraint Induced Movement Therapy (CIMT) aims to overcome learned non use by practising activities with the affected arm, and restraining the non stroke arm. CIMT is considered an effective intervention to promote arm recovery, however its' use in clinical practice has been slow to emerge
Purpose: This study aimed to investigate the use of CIMT by therapists in the Republic of Ireland initially and later extend to Northern Ireland to further investigate any variation as part of research 2
Methods: postal survey was distributed to 443 Physiotherapists and Occupational therapists
in Ireland currently working in stroke care, or with 3months previous experience treating
stroke, accessed with permission from the databases of both the Irish Society of
Chartered Physiotherapists and the Association of Occupational Therapists in Ireland.
The protocol was approved by the University of Ulster Health and Rehabilitation Sciences
Research Institute filter committee as category A and therefore did not require full ethical approval. Following signed informed consent, therapists completed a 5 page questionnaire composed of 31 questions
Results:
Analysis: Carried out using Chi-square and Pearson product -moment correlation on SPSS software
Results: The overall response rate was 62.8% (n=278; PT=47.79%; OT=64.51%). Overall 61.4% cited having not used CIMT with patients post stroke. Majority of therapists (60.1%) identified that CIMT would be difficult to administer in their clinical setting. Common reservations cited by therapists included: training and mentorship (3.5%), time constraints (2.9%) and fear of shoulder subluxation (2.4%).Common barriers to the use of CIMT were: patient compliance (34.3%); safety concerns (81.5%); and lack of resources (79.4%). Chi -square did not identify any significant association for profession in relation to the use of CIMT (p=.106); there was however a significant association for experience with use of CIMT (p=0.000),A large positive strength relationship existed between therapist's use of CIMT and their level of clinical experience and therapist's use of CIMT and qualification (r =.703, r =.690).
Conclusion(s): Overall this survey yielded many positive results and has paved the way for further research. The barriers and therapists' reservations identified in the survey need to be addressed to enhance the availability of CIMT in Ireland
Implications: Highlights difficulty of implementing current research in practice, numerous reasons identified for the failure to implement evidence based (EBP) in practice, although studies have supported that patient outcomes are substantially improved when health care is based on evidence from well designed studies versus tradition or clinical expertise alone.
Keywords: CIMT, UPPERLIMB, STROKE
Funding acknowledgements: Chartered society of Irish Physiotherapists
Purpose: This study aimed to investigate the use of CIMT by therapists in the Republic of Ireland initially and later extend to Northern Ireland to further investigate any variation as part of research 2
Methods: postal survey was distributed to 443 Physiotherapists and Occupational therapists
in Ireland currently working in stroke care, or with 3months previous experience treating
stroke, accessed with permission from the databases of both the Irish Society of
Chartered Physiotherapists and the Association of Occupational Therapists in Ireland.
The protocol was approved by the University of Ulster Health and Rehabilitation Sciences
Research Institute filter committee as category A and therefore did not require full ethical approval. Following signed informed consent, therapists completed a 5 page questionnaire composed of 31 questions
Results:
Analysis: Carried out using Chi-square and Pearson product -moment correlation on SPSS software
Results: The overall response rate was 62.8% (n=278; PT=47.79%; OT=64.51%). Overall 61.4% cited having not used CIMT with patients post stroke. Majority of therapists (60.1%) identified that CIMT would be difficult to administer in their clinical setting. Common reservations cited by therapists included: training and mentorship (3.5%), time constraints (2.9%) and fear of shoulder subluxation (2.4%).Common barriers to the use of CIMT were: patient compliance (34.3%); safety concerns (81.5%); and lack of resources (79.4%). Chi -square did not identify any significant association for profession in relation to the use of CIMT (p=.106); there was however a significant association for experience with use of CIMT (p=0.000),A large positive strength relationship existed between therapist's use of CIMT and their level of clinical experience and therapist's use of CIMT and qualification (r =.703, r =.690).
Conclusion(s): Overall this survey yielded many positive results and has paved the way for further research. The barriers and therapists' reservations identified in the survey need to be addressed to enhance the availability of CIMT in Ireland
Implications: Highlights difficulty of implementing current research in practice, numerous reasons identified for the failure to implement evidence based (EBP) in practice, although studies have supported that patient outcomes are substantially improved when health care is based on evidence from well designed studies versus tradition or clinical expertise alone.
Keywords: CIMT, UPPERLIMB, STROKE
Funding acknowledgements: Chartered society of Irish Physiotherapists
Topic: Neurology: stroke; Neurology: stroke
Ethics approval required: Yes
Institution: University of Ulster Health and Rehabilitation Sciences
Ethics committee: Research Institute filter committee as category A
Ethics number: did not require full ethical
All authors, affiliations and abstracts have been published as submitted.
