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Cools S.1, Freene N.1, Bissett B.1
1University of Canberra, Physiotherapy, Bruce, Australia
Background: Physical activity (PA) promotion by health care professionals is an important strategy in the effort to increase insufficient PA levels in Australia and worldwide. Physiotherapists are well positioned to promote PA, however no studies have investigated current practice of PA promotion by physiotherapists Australia-wide.
Purpose: To investigate how well Australian physiotherapists know the Australian PA and Sedentary Behaviour (PASB) guidelines and which factors influence frequency of PA promotion.
Methods: An online cross-sectional survey of registered physiotherapists practicing in Australia was conducted using voluntary sampling. The survey assessed knowledge of the Australian PASB guidelines, frequency of promotion, role perception, confidence, perceived barriers and feasible options for promotion. Knowledge of the Australian PASB guidelines was assessed using a 4-point scoring system. To investigate factors associated with increased PA promotion the sample was divided into two groups: those who had promoted PA to fewer than 10 patients in the past month and those who had promoted PA to 10 or more patients. Chi-square analyses and independent t-tests were used to assess differences between groups. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was conducted to assess factors associated with frequency of promotion.
Results: A total of 257 Australian physiotherapists completed the survey and 65% reported being aware of the Australian PASB guidelines. Only 10% were able to accurately state the PASB guidelines and just 54% reported promoting PA to 10 or more patients per month. The large majority (98%) of all participants felt that PA promotion was part of physiotherapists role and 94% of all participants felt confident promoting PA. Of the barriers listed in the survey, the most frequent was lack of time (14%). Nearly 94% of participants considered brief counselling in regular consultations feasible for promotion and 93% considered the distribution of resources to be feasible. Males were nearly three times more likely than females to promote to 10 or more patients per month. Those who felt lack of counselling skills were a barrier to promotion were 83% less likely to promote PA, and those who felt promotion wouldnt change their patients behaviour were 73% less likely to promote more frequently. Participants who considered separate one-on-one consultations as a feasible option for promotion were more than three times more likely to promote PA more frequently.
Conclusion(s): Australian physiotherapists perceive PA promotion as part of their role and feel confident promoting PA. Despite this only 10% are able to accurately state the Australian PASB guidelines and only 54% are promoting to 10 or more patients per month. Education and training of Australian physiotherapists in PA counselling and behaviour change strategies is needed to increase frequency of promotion.
Implications: Australian physiotherapists need further education and training in PA promotion. In particular, education should focus on the Australian PASB guidelines. Training in brief behaviour change strategies that can be implemented in regular consultations is needed to feasibly encourage routine PA promotion.
Funding acknowledgements: Funding for this project was provided by the University of Canberra Faculty of Health Research Funding support program.
Topic: Health promotion & wellbeing/healthy ageing
Ethics approval: This study was approved by the University of Canberra Human Research Ethics Committee in October 2015 (HREC 15-207).
All authors, affiliations and abstracts have been published as submitted.
