S. Mastwyk1, N. Taylor1,2, A. Lowe3, C. Dalton4, C. Peiris1
1La Trobe University, Department of Physiotherapy, Podiatry and Prosthetics and Orthotics, Melbourne, Australia, 2Eastern Health, Allied Health Clinical Research Office, Box Hill, Australia, 3Sheffield Hallam University, National Centre for Sports & Exercise Medicine, Sheffield, United Kingdom, 4Sheffield Hallam University, Advanced Wellbeing Research Centre, Sheffield, United Kingdom
Background: Up to a third of the world's adult population have metabolic syndrome; a collection of risk factors that significantly raise the risk of chronic disease. Diagnosis is determined by the presence of at least three of the following conditions: hypertension, abdominal obesity, elevated triglycerides, low levels of HDL cholesterol, or elevated blood glucose. Metabolic syndrome can be reduced or even reversed with regular supervised physical activity, which physiotherapists are well-placed to prescribe. Metabolic syndrome is particularly important for physiotherapists to recognise due to the underlying chronic systemic inflammation which is also present in many conditions physiotherapists routinely manage. However, physiotherapists may not be aware of the links between metabolic risk factors and common musculoskeletal complaints, therefore missing an important opportunity to promote health.
Purpose: To determine the knowledge, attitudes, and current practices of primary care physiotherapists, in recognising and managing metabolic syndrome.
Methods: This pragmatic, mixed-methods study comprised an online survey and focus groups with Australian and English physiotherapists working in primary care settings. A convenience sample via email invitation to the clinical networks of both La Trobe and Sheffield Hallam Universities (survey) and purposive sampling (focus groups) were used to ensure study participants represented a broad sample of physiotherapists. The anonymous 5-minute survey consisted of 31 questions across 4 domains and was administered using QuestionPro. The semi-structured focus groups were conducted online using Zoom and analysed using an inductive thematic analysis consistent with an interpretive description framework.
Results: Two-hundred physiotherapists responded to the survey and 12 participated in the focus groups. The mean age of survey participants was 39 (SD 11) years; 58% were female; mean years of clinical experience was 17 (SD 14); and the majority worked with clients with musculoskeletal conditions (77%). Analysis showed metabolic syndrome was not on physiotherapists’ radar; they did not screen for metabolic syndrome nor provide management for it in primary care. Although most physiotherapists had some awareness of metabolic syndrome, they were not knowledgeable. Physiotherapists reported a need to focus on their clients’ presenting condition, and there was uncertainty on whether metabolic syndrome management was within their scope of practice. Themes derived from the focus groups were convergent with the survey responses.
Conclusions: Physiotherapists working in primary care have limited knowledge of metabolic syndrome, and as a result, are not providing screening or management for this in their practice. However, physiotherapists reported they had an important role to play in physical activity prescription for chronic disease management and were keen to further their knowledge and skills related to metabolic syndrome.
Implications: Physiotherapists working in primary care settings are well-placed to identify and manage clients with metabolic syndrome but are currently missing an opportunity to intervene. By providing appropriate education to increase knowledge of metabolic syndrome, physiotherapists working in primary care settings may be an untapped resource.
Funding acknowledgements: Nil funding received.
Keywords:
Metabolic syndrome
Health promotion
Primary care
Metabolic syndrome
Health promotion
Primary care
Topics:
Health promotion & wellbeing/healthy ageing/physical activity
Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) & risk factors
Primary health care
Health promotion & wellbeing/healthy ageing/physical activity
Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) & risk factors
Primary health care
Did this work require ethics approval? Yes
Institution: La Trobe & Sheffield Hallam Universities
Committee: La Trobe Human Ethics Committee; Sheffield Hallam Ethics Committee
Ethics number: HEC21186; ER34335682
All authors, affiliations and abstracts have been published as submitted.
