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Winberg C.1, Lenné R.2
1Lund University, Department of Health Sciences, Lund, Sweden, 2Karolinska Institutet, Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, Stockholm, Sweden
Background: Non-communicable and lifestyle-related diseases are increasing globally; however, a healthy lifestyle can prevent many diseases and premature death. Physiotherapists (PT) have an important role in the prevention of these diseases, and the integration of health promotion in practice should be encouraged. Thus the Swedish Association of Physiotherapists have through several projects during the last five years increased the awareness and knowledge about health promotion among PTs. During the last two years the focus has been on chronic conditions causing the suffering of the individuals and increased costs of health care. One disease targeted is stroke, a common non-communicable disease which can be both primarily and secondary prevented by lifestyle interventions. As much as 80 % of all stroke and cardiovascular disease can be prevented by a healthy lifestyle. Physiotherapists (PT) have the potential to effectively counsel patients with respect to lifestyle behavior changes.
Purpose: To facilitate broadening of the professional physiotherapy paradigm generally to include health promotion and prevention and particularly to integrate primary and secondary prevention of stroke to PT practice.
Methods: Project plans were developed and the fundings were applied. The project organizations with PT researchers and clinicians were built. As a first step in the stroke project a literature review was performed and the cooperation with the users´organization was developed. Two evidence-based brochures were worked out and tested in PT practice, one targeting PTs and another one targeting patients and family members.
Also education in healthy life style and in methods to support behaviour changes was performed to PTs through seminars and lectures.
Results: The different projects have resulted in an increased interest, awareness and competence among PTs regarding health promotion and prevention.
Inter- and intraprofessionals networks have been developed as well as an increased cooperation with the users organization for the best for the patients. Knowledge base in form of brochures concerning the primary and secondary prevention of stroke, both for PTs and patients with family members, can be downloaded from the Association´s webpage and are disseminated to PTs at primary care units and via the users organization.
Conclusion(s): PTs play an important part in health promotion and prevention and need to acknowledge this on a micro, meso and macro level. Targeted educations and information material facilitate the PTs involvment and their commitment. The national associations can be facilitators and stimulate and engage PTs in their work with health promotion and life style interventions.
Implications: Through the increased knowledge and competence of life style interventions PTs can integrate health promotion to PT practice.
The evidence-based material, developed for PTs, support similar and structural practice in primary and secondary prevention of stroke on a national level.
The material developed for patients with stroke or risk for stroke and their family members support self-care of the patients.
Funding acknowledgements: The project have been finance by the Swedish board of welfare.
Topic: Professional practice: other
Ethics approval: Ethical approval was not required.
All authors, affiliations and abstracts have been published as submitted.
