A wake-up call for physical activity promotion in Australia: results from a survey of Australian nursing and allied health professionals

2019 ◽  
Vol 43 (2) ◽  
pp. 165 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nicole Freene ◽  
Sophie Cools ◽  
Danny Hills ◽  
Bernie Bissett ◽  
Kate Pumpa ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Health Professionals ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Allied Health ◽  
Physical Activity Promotion ◽  
Public Hospitals ◽  
Allied Health Professionals ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Ideal Position ◽  
Activity Promotion

Objective Nursing and allied health professionals (AHPs) are in an ideal position to promote physical activity (PA) as part of their health care provision. The aim of this study was to investigate current promotion and knowledge of PA among people in these disciplines. Methods A cross-sectional online survey of practicing Australian physiotherapists, nurses, exercise physiologists, occupational therapists, dietitians and pharmacists was conducted in 2016. Results A total of 433 nurses and AHPs completed the survey. All disciplines agreed that providing PA advice was part of their role, although nurses were less likely to agree. All disciplines felt they had the skills to promote PA but nurses were more likely to report a lack of time as a barrier. Physiotherapists and exercise physiologists were more confident giving PA advice to patients. Most health professionals (68%) were aware of the PA guidelines, although only 16% were accurately able to describe all relevant components. In logistic regression modelling, women and those working in public hospitals were less likely to encourage PA. Awareness of the PA guidelines doubled the odds of encouraging PA in patients (odds ratio 2.01, 95% confidence interval 1.18–3.43). Conclusions Australian nurses and AHPs perceive that PA promotion is part of their role, however few have specific knowledge of the PA guidelines. To increase PA promotion by nurses and AHPs awareness of the PA guidelines appears to be essential. What is known about the topic? Nurses and AHPs are in an ideal position to promote PA, although there is limited evidence of their PA promotion and knowledge. What does the paper add? Australian nurses and AHPs are confident and think it is feasible to promote PA to patients in several healthcare settings but many lack sufficient PA knowledge, limiting their PA promotion. What are the implications for practitioners? Increasing PA knowledge of nurses and AHPs could generate increased levels of PA in the Australian population and improve national health and wellbeing.

scholarly journals The Changing Nature of Palliative Care: Implications for Allied Health Professionals’ Educational and Training Needs

Healthcare ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 7 (4) ◽  
pp. 112 ◽  
Author(s):  
Deidre D. Morgan ◽  
Deb Rawlings ◽  
Carly J. Moores ◽  
Lizzie Button ◽  
Jennifer J. Tieman
Keyword(s):  
Professional Development ◽  
Palliative Care ◽  
Clinical Practice ◽  
Health Professionals ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Allied Health ◽  
Further Education ◽  
Allied Health Professionals ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Education Access

CareSearch is an Australian Government Department of Health funded repository of evidence-based palliative care information and resources. The CareSearch Allied Health Hub was developed in 2013 to support all allied health professionals working with palliative care clients in all clinical settings. This cross-sectional online survey sought to elicit allied health professionals palliative care experiences and subsequent considerations for educational and clinical practice needs. The survey was disseminated nationally via a range of organisations. Data was collected about palliative care knowledge, experience working with palliative care clients and professional development needs. Data were evaluated by profession, experience and practice setting. In total, 217 respondents answered one or more survey questions (94%). Respondents (65%) reported seeing >15 palliative care clients per month with 84% seen in hospital and community settings. Undergraduate education underprepared or partially prepared allied health professionals to work with these clients (96%) and 67% identified the need for further education. Access to postgraduate professional development was limited by available backfill and funding. Study findings support the importance of free, accessible, relevant educational and professional development resources to support clinical practice. This is particularly relevant for allied health professionals who have limited opportunities to attend formal professional development sessions.

Experiences in physical activity promotion in health care settings for primary prevention in the UK

2014 ◽  
Vol 62 (2) ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Primary Care ◽  
Health Professionals ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Full Range ◽  
Tertiary Care ◽  
Physical Activity Promotion ◽  
Community Based ◽  
Activity Promotion ◽  
Randomised Controlled

In addition to the delivery of primary care services, recent changes to the NHS in the United Kingdom have placed increasing responsibility on GPs for the commissioning of the full range of health services from prevention through to clinical interventions and rehabilitation. Whilst historically there has always been an expectation that primary care professionals were ideally placed to provide support for prevention as well as treatment, their active engagement in the promotion of physical activity has remained largely superficial. With notable exceptions where individuals have a personal interest or commitment, the majority of health professionals tend to limit themselves to peremptory non-specific advice at best, or frequently don’t broach the subject at all. There are a number of reasons for this including increasing time pressures, a general lack of knowledge, limited evidence and concerns about litigation in the event of an adverse exercise induced event. However in the 1990s there was a surge of interest in the emerging “Exercise on Prescription” model where patients could be referred to community based exercise instructors for a structured “prescription” of exercise in community leisure centres. Despite the continuing popularity of the model there remain problems particularly in getting the active support of health professionals who generally cite the same barriers as previously identified. In an attempt to overcome some of these problems Wales established a national exercise referral scheme with an associated randomised controlled trial. The scheme evaluated well and had subsequently evolved with new developments including integration with secondary and tertiary care pathways, accredited training for exercise instructors and exit routes into alternative community based exercise opportunities.

scholarly journals Testing the Youth Physical Activity Promotion Model during the COVID-19 Pandemic, with Partial Least Squares Second-Order Latent Constructs

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (12) ◽  
pp. 6398
Author(s):  
Elena Druică ◽  
Rodica Ianole-Călin ◽  
Monica Sakizlian ◽  
Daniela Aducovschi ◽  
Remus Dumitrescu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Least Squares ◽  
Partial Least Squares ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Physical Activity Promotion ◽  
Second Order ◽  
Latent Constructs ◽  
Activity Promotion ◽  
Youth Physical Activity ◽  
Mediating Mechanisms

We tested the Youth Physical Activity Promotion (YPAP) framework on Romanian students in order to identify actionable determinants to support participation in physical activity. Our sample consisted of 665 responses to an online survey, with participants aged 18–23 (mean = 19 years); 70% were women. We used the partial least squares algorithm to estimate the relationships between students’ behavior and possible predictors during the COVID-19 pandemic. Our results indicate that all the theoretical dimensions of YPAP (predisposing, enabling and reinforcing) have a positive and significant impact on physical activity, with two mediating mechanisms expressed as predisposing factors: able and worth. Unlike previous research, we used second-order latent constructs, unveiling a particular structure for the enabling dimension that only includes sport competence, fitness and skills, but not the environmental factors.

Physical Activity and Its Relationship With Perceived Environment Among Adults Living in a Region of Low Socioeconomic Level

2013 ◽  
Vol 10 (4) ◽  
pp. 563-571 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alex Antonio Florindo ◽  
Emanuel Péricles Salvador ◽  
Rodrigo Siqueira Reis
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Environmental Pollution ◽  
Great Influence ◽  
Physical Activity Promotion ◽  
Population Based ◽  
Outcome Variable ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Perceived Environment ◽  
Environment Variables ◽  
Activity Promotion

Background:The environment has a great influence on people’s lifestyles and their capacity to choose healthy habits. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between perceived environment and physical activity among adults living in the city of São Paulo, Brazil.Methods:This was a cross-sectional population-based study conducted with 890 people age 18 years or over. Physical activity was measured through the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ; long version) and perceived environment was evaluated using the Neighborhood Walkability Scale (NEWS) adapted. Poisson’s regression was used for statistical analyses and prevalence ratios were calculated. The outcome variable was the attainment of at least 150 minutes per week of physical activities. The independent variables consisted of perceived environment variables and control variables (sex, age, schooling, time living in the home, and number of cars per household).Results:The perceived environment variables that explained physical activity were: receiving invitations from friends for activities (P = .012), low environmental pollution scores (p trend = 0.030) and high general safety scores (P-trend = 0.039).Conclusions:These results suggest that physical activity promotion in regions like this should be envisaged as a complex phenomenon and investments in public safety, prevention and combating of environmental pollution and social support networks are needed.

scholarly journals IMPACT AND SATISFACTION WITH E-CONSULTATION: A PERCEPTION OF ALLIED HEALTH PROFESSIONALS

2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 19-24
Author(s):  
Mubashir Siddiqui
Keyword(s):  
Health Professionals ◽  
Allied Health ◽  
Healthcare Delivery ◽  
Healthcare Providers ◽  
Cross Sectional Survey ◽  
Allied Health Professionals ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Google Docs ◽  
Consultation Services ◽  
Good Substitute

BACKGROUND AND AIMS The havoc caused by COVID-19 leads to have an adverse impact on medical priorities for consultation however e-consultation has been used widely by practitioners to aid the patient and healthcare providers. METHODOLOGY A cross-sectional survey was conducted on allied health professionals, considering physical and occupational therapists. A self-administered questionnaire regarding impact assessment and level of attained satisfaction was distributed to participants in Google Docs via email or Whatsapp groups. RESULTS A total number of 109 responses obtained from the participants showed (34.9%) were agreed to understand the completed condition of the patient, (38.5%) but (41.3%) disagreed to treat the patient same as physical appointment and (35.58%) disagreed to work more productively. Only (32.1%) were agreed to be satisfied during their consultation, (49.5%) agreed that e-consultation can never be adopted as a good substitute of physical appointments. CONCLUSION It was concluded that limited number of therapists were satisfied with their e-consultation services while majority were agreed that the service cannot be a good substitute for a physical appointment. Therefore, further trials needs to be conducted to evaluate the factors causing hindrance in healthcare delivery.

scholarly journals A Review of Health Promotion Practices Among Physiotherapists In Africa

2021 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 14-19
Author(s):  
Nepha Musonda ◽  
◽  
Micah Mutuna Simpamba ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
South Africa ◽  
Health Promotion ◽  
Physical Activity Promotion ◽  
Perceived Barriers ◽  
Inclusion Criteria ◽  
African Countries ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Activity Promotion ◽  
Health Promoting

Background:Physiotherapists are better placed to spearhead health promoting activities by encouraging health enhancing lifestyles as part of their practice. This study reviews health promotion practices of Physiotherapists in African countries in order to identify gaps and make recommendations to improve the health promotion practices. Methods:This narrative review was developed from a literature review of previous studies on health promotion practices among physiotherapists in Africa, which were published in English from the years 2010-2020, retrieved from Google Scholar and PubMed. Only articles that focused on health promotion, physical activity, practices, Physiotherapy and Africa were included.Results:Nine (9) studies met the inclusion criteria for this review. Five (5) studies were from Nigeria while one study each from Rwanda, South Africa, Ghana and Ethiopia. Most studies reviewed used quantitative cross-sectional surveys. The focus of these studies were mainly exploring Physiotherapists’ knowledge, attitude and practices towards health promotion and physical activity promotion. Others looked at Physiotherapy practices with regards to counseling, risk factor assessment and interventions as well as perceived barriers and educational needs. Conclusion: It is evident that there is little research done on health promotion practices among Physiotherapists in African countries. There is need to conduct more studies in this area in order to identify the challenges and improve the health promotion practices among Physiotherapy practitioners in the region.

scholarly journals A mixed-methods study of challenges and benefits of clinical academic careers for nurses, midwives and allied health professionals

BMJ Open ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (10) ◽  
pp. e030595 ◽  
Author(s):  
Diane Trusson ◽  
Emma Rowley ◽  
Louise Bramley
Keyword(s):  
Health Professionals ◽  
Personal Development ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Allied Health ◽  
Academic Career ◽  
Allied Health Professionals ◽  
Clinical Role ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Depth Interviews ◽  
Academic Study

ObjectivesThe clinical academic trajectory for doctors and dentists is well-established, with research embedded in their career development. Recent years have also seen a burgeoning interest and push for nurses, midwives and allied health professionals (NMAHPs) to pursue a clinical academic career. However, the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) 10-year review suggested that there may be problems with progression post Master’s degree level for this group, with nurses and midwives receiving less NIHR funding than allied health professionals. This study responds to these concerns, tracking the progression and exploring experiences of NMAHPs in the East Midlands region of England.DesignAn online survey and in-depth interviews were used to capture a wide range of experiences.Participants67 NMAHPs who were pursuing a clinical academic career were surveyed, supplemented by 16 semi-structured in-depth interviews.ResultsThree themes emerged during data analysis: Embarking on a clinical academic career, overcoming barriers and benefits.ConclusionsNMAHPs are motivated to pursue a clinical academic career by a drive to improve services for the benefit of patients and the National Health Service more widely, as well as for personal development and career progression. People working in these roles have opportunities to explore possible solutions to issues that they encounter in their clinical role through academic study. Findings reveal benefits emanating from the individual level through to (inter)national levels, therefore academic study should be encouraged and supported. However, investment is needed to establish more clinical academic roles to enable NMAHPs to continue to use their experience and expertise post-PhD, otherwise the full extent of their value will not be recognised.

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