THE SURVEY OF CURRENT KNOWLEDGE OF IDIOPATHIC SCOLIOSIS AMONG PHYSIOTHERAPISTS AND PHYSIOTHERAPY STUDENTS IN THAILAND

R. Jitmal¹, M. Vongsirinavarat¹, A. Nuntapornsak¹

¹Mahidol University, Nakhon Pathom, Thailand

Background: Idiopathic scoliosis (IS) is a three-dimensional deformity of the spine. This condition is known to be associated with several complications, such as back pain, decreased cardiorespiratory efficiency, and decreased vital capacity of the lungs. The International Society on Scoliosis Orthopaedic and Rehabilitation Treatment (SOSORT) suggested that early detection and management are necessary for adolescents with IS. Physical therapists could play an important role in management of IS. However, the information regarding current knowledge of IS among Thai physiotherapists is lacking.

Purpose: To evaluate the current knowledge of IS among physiotherapists and physiotherapy students in Thailand. The confidence in management of IS was also explored.

Methods: A questionnaire was drafted based on the 2016 SOSORT guidelines for assessment and management of IS. The questions included definition, cause, development, prevalence, diagnosis, treatment, bracing, familiarity with conservative treatment methods, as well as the beneficial or harmful physical activity. The confidence to perform screening and treatment, as well as an opinion about the appropriateness of education during the undergraduate level were asked. The questionnaire was distributed online through the specific groups of social networks of Thai physiotherapists and students. The registered physiotherapists and the fourth-year physiotherapy students were invited to respond to the survey. The study protocol was approved by the Mahidol University Central Institutional Review Board (COE No. MU-CIRB 2022/171.2006).

Results: The respondents were 167 physiotherapy students and 221 physiotherapists. The physiotherapists and students answered correctly for 3.99 and 3.96 respectively, out of 9 questions. Significantly greater proportions of physiotherapists could correctly answer the questions aboutetiology and treatment compared with students. More students could answer correctly in terms of diagnostic criteria. There were no significant differences between groups in the proportions of correct answering in other questions, including definition, development, prevalence, bracing, as well as the beneficial and harmful physical activities. Around 40.7% of participants were familiar with the conservative treatment of the Lehnert-Schroth-Weiss method. Only 17% of participants were not familiar with any other conservative treatment methods listed. Interestingly, the physiotherapy students were more confident in conducting IS screening, providing educational support for the patients, and treating the patients with IS than the physiotherapists. However, both groups demonstrated only fair levelsof confidence. Also, more physiotherapy students agreed that the contents of IS learnt in their undergraduate program were appropriate compared with physiotherapists. The subgroup analysis in the physiotherapist group showed that 68.8% had experience in treating IS, and only 23.5% had participated in the continuing education about IS.

Conclusions: Both physiotherapists and physiotherapy students had a fair level of knowledge regarding IS. Physiotherapy students had greater confidence in management of IS than physiotherapists.

Implications: In Thailand, physiotherapists are usually the first point of contact for patients with IS. The results of this study indicated that Thai physiotherapists have to improve their knowledge and confidence of IS management. We suggested that the continuing education center should consider providing a specific training course about IS management for physiotherapists.

Funding acknowledgements: The authors received no financial support for the study.

Keywords:
Idiopathic scoliosis
Knowledge survey
Physiotherapy

Topics:
Education: continuing professional development

Did this work require ethics approval? Yes

Institution: Mahidol University Central Institutional Review Board

Committee: Mahidol University Central Institutional Review Board

Ethics number: MU-CIRB 2022/171.2006