Kawae T1, Iwaki D1, Fudeyasu K1, Nomura T2, Kataoka H3, Sekikawa K4, Umayahara Y5, Ishiguro T6, Kimura H7
1Hiroshima University Hospital, Division of Rehabilitation, Hiroshima, Japan, 2Kansai University of Welfare Sciences, Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, Osaka, Japan, 3KKR Takamatsu Hospital, Rehabilitation Center, Kagawa, Japan, 4Hiroshima University, Department of Physical Analysis and Therapeutic Sciences, Graduate School of Biomedical & Health Sciences, Hiroshima University, Hiroshima, Japan, 5Hiroshima Cosmopolitan University, Department of Rehabilitation, Faculty of Health Sciences, Hiroshima, Japan, 6Tohto College of Health Sciences, Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, Chiba, Japan, 7Hiroshima University Hospital, Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Hiroshima, Japan
Background: Since diabetes mellitus can cause cerebrovascular and cardiovascular diseases, it is necessary for physical therapists to acquire sufficient knowledge about the pathology and treatment of diabetes mellitus. However, the proportion of diabetes education programs in Japanese universities is small, and the postgraduate education system in Japan has not been standardized. Therefore, it is necessary to develop a program to provide knowledge on the pathology and treatment of diabetes in Japan.
Purpose: This study aims to create a postgraduate education program to foster physical therapists with knowledge of diabetes treatment necessary in clinical practice.
Methods: First, we created an educational program to give physical therapists knowledge of diabetes pathology and treatment. This program consisting of lectures and practical skills sessions was created by Certified Diabetes Educators of Japan, Certified Physical Therapists (Metabolism), and Professional Physical Therapists (Internal Disability). Twenty physical therapists (clinical experience: 4.5 ± 3.8 years) not involved in the treatment of diabetes were the subjects of this program. A questionnaire survey was administered to the subjects twice (before and after the program) to examine their understanding of the pathology and treatment of diabetes and their perception of diabetes treatment. The program was conducted by a physical therapist who helped create it. In addition, we prepared an educator manual to unify the program across different institutions and provided guidance based on the manual. A difference of p 0.05 was considered statistically significant.
Results: It was found that the subjects' knowledge of the pathology and treatment of diabetes mellitus significantly increased after the implementation of the program compared to before implementation (correct answer rate: 33.9 ± 7.4% vs. 60.4 ± 6.6%; p = 0.02). Moreover, it was revealed that the subjects did not sufficiently acquire knowledge about diabetes in postgraduate education. However, the subjects recognized that it was necessary to acquire knowledge on diabetes when implementing physical therapy after completing the educational program.
Conclusion(s): Implementation of the educational program developed in this study resulted in improved knowledge and recognition of diabetes.
Implications: This study only investigated the influence of the educational program on physical therapists. In future studies, it is necessary to investigate the treatment and compliance with glycemic control of diabetes patients working with physical therapists who completed this program.
Keywords: physical therapist educational program, diabetes mellitus, postgraduate education
Funding acknowledgements: This study supported by a research grant from the Japanese Physical Therapy Association.
Purpose: This study aims to create a postgraduate education program to foster physical therapists with knowledge of diabetes treatment necessary in clinical practice.
Methods: First, we created an educational program to give physical therapists knowledge of diabetes pathology and treatment. This program consisting of lectures and practical skills sessions was created by Certified Diabetes Educators of Japan, Certified Physical Therapists (Metabolism), and Professional Physical Therapists (Internal Disability). Twenty physical therapists (clinical experience: 4.5 ± 3.8 years) not involved in the treatment of diabetes were the subjects of this program. A questionnaire survey was administered to the subjects twice (before and after the program) to examine their understanding of the pathology and treatment of diabetes and their perception of diabetes treatment. The program was conducted by a physical therapist who helped create it. In addition, we prepared an educator manual to unify the program across different institutions and provided guidance based on the manual. A difference of p 0.05 was considered statistically significant.
Results: It was found that the subjects' knowledge of the pathology and treatment of diabetes mellitus significantly increased after the implementation of the program compared to before implementation (correct answer rate: 33.9 ± 7.4% vs. 60.4 ± 6.6%; p = 0.02). Moreover, it was revealed that the subjects did not sufficiently acquire knowledge about diabetes in postgraduate education. However, the subjects recognized that it was necessary to acquire knowledge on diabetes when implementing physical therapy after completing the educational program.
Conclusion(s): Implementation of the educational program developed in this study resulted in improved knowledge and recognition of diabetes.
Implications: This study only investigated the influence of the educational program on physical therapists. In future studies, it is necessary to investigate the treatment and compliance with glycemic control of diabetes patients working with physical therapists who completed this program.
Keywords: physical therapist educational program, diabetes mellitus, postgraduate education
Funding acknowledgements: This study supported by a research grant from the Japanese Physical Therapy Association.
Topic: Education: clinical; Education: clinical; Education: methods of teaching & learning
Ethics approval required: Yes
Institution: Hiroshima University Hospital
Ethics committee: Epidemiological Research Ethics Review Committee of Hiroshima University
Ethics number: E-769
All authors, affiliations and abstracts have been published as submitted.
