Health Competency Standards in Physical Therapist Practice

AbstractAlthough the physical therapist profession is the leading established, largely nonpharmacological health profession in the world and is committed to health promotion and noncommunicable disease (NCD) prevention, these have yet to be designated as core physical therapist competencies. Based on findings of 3 Physical Therapy Summits on Global Health, addressing NCDs (heart disease, cancer, hypertension, stroke, diabetes, obesity, and chronic lung disease) has been declared an urgent professional priority. The Third Summit established the status of health competencies in physical therapist practice across the 5 World Confederation for Physical Therapy (WCPT) regions with a view to establish health competency standards, this article's focus. Three general principles related to health-focused practice emerged, along with 3 recommendations for its inclusion. Participants acknowledged that specific competencies are needed to ensure that health promotion and NCD prevention are practiced consistently by physical therapists within and across WCPT regions (ie, effective counseling for smoking cessation, basic nutrition, weight control, and reduced sitting and increased activity/exercise in patients and clients, irrespective of their presenting complaints/diagnoses). Minimum accreditable health competency standards within the profession, including use of the WCPT-supported Health Improvement Card, were recommended for inclusion into practice, entry-to-practice education, and research. Such standards are highly consistent with the mission of the WCPT and the World Health Organization. The physical therapist profession needs to assume a leadership role vis-à-vis eliminating the gap between what we know unequivocally about the causes of and contributors to NCDs and the long-term benefits of effective, sustained, nonpharmacological lifestyle behavior change, which no drug nor many surgical procedures have been reported to match.

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Contributions of Non-professional Local Physical Therapist In the Promotion of Community Health Activities in the Arsi Zone, Southeast Ethiopia (Preprint)

10.2196/preprints.27789 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Leta Melaku

Keyword(s):

Health Promotion ◽

Physical Therapy ◽

Physical Therapists ◽

Physical Therapist ◽

Sampling Technique ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Arsi Zone ◽

Southeast Ethiopia ◽

The Impact

BACKGROUND Physical activity is a first-line therapy and secures against persistent illnesses. Essential medical care professionals are obviously situated to advance actual action. Active recuperation mediations focused on advancement and upkeep of wellbeing, personal satisfaction, and wellness. There is, notwithstanding, a deficiency of such examination proof in Ethiopia. OBJECTIVE We planned to assess the degree of KAP of nonprofessional local physical therapists' towards wellbeing advancement in Arsi zone of Oromia, Southeast Ethiopia. METHODS Community based cross sectional study was conducted in April 2018 among 45 physical therapists. Data were collected using pre-tested, structured and self-administrative questionnaires. Participants were selected by quota sampling technique. The questionnaire was drafted specifically to test the KAP. Data were double entered and analyzed by SPSS Version 20.0 program. Descriptive statistics were used. The KAP were estimated using proportion. RESULTS In present response rate is 90.0%. Ages of respondents ranged between 24 – 87 years. 57.8% of participants got initial physical therapy knowledge from either of their parents. 53.3% of the respondents hear about health promotion from families and friends. 57.8% of them provided health promotion at their workplace. The overall percentage of all the respondents’ KAP in health promotion was 60.1%. CONCLUSIONS The respondents’ have good KAP towards health promotion. However there is still room for improvement. Also there is a lack of proper guide lines in determining the impact physical therapy.

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Awareness and Perception of Physical Therapy Education, Role in Patient Management and Health Promotion Held by Senior Medical Practitioners

Asian Journal of Allied Health Sciences (AJAHS) ◽

10.52229/ajahs.v2i3.299 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. 13-17

Author(s):

OJS Admin

Keyword(s):

Health Promotion ◽

Physical Therapy ◽

Patient Management ◽

Physical Therapists ◽

Physical Therapist ◽

Well Being ◽

Physical Therapy Education ◽

Health Providers ◽

Medical Practitioners ◽

Therapy Education

Physical therapists are integral part of health care system. In collaboration with other health providers, physical therapist can play an effective role in patient handling and well-being of individuals. The awareness and perception of senior medical practitioners is less known regarding physical therapy education, role in patient management and health promotion.

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Physical Therapy 2.0: Leveraging Social Media to Engage Patients in Rehabilitation and Health Promotion

Physical Therapy ◽

10.2522/ptj.20130432 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 95 (3) ◽

pp. 389-396 ◽

Cited By ~ 14

Author(s):

Emily Knight ◽

Robert J. Werstine ◽

Diane M. Rasmussen-Pennington ◽

Deborah Fitzsimmons ◽

Robert J. Petrella

Keyword(s):

Social Media ◽

Health Promotion ◽

Physical Therapy ◽

Treatment Outcomes ◽

Physical Therapists ◽

Physical Therapist ◽

Care Delivery ◽

Health Care Systems ◽

Noncommunicable Diseases ◽

The Way

Care for chronic conditions and noncommunicable diseases is dominating health systems around the globe. For physical therapists, this strain presents a substantial opportunity for engaging patients in health promotion and disease management in the years to come. Examples of social media being used to engage consumers in the business landscape are pervasive, and research reports suggest that patients are ready for social media to be incorporated into the way health care systems deliver care. We propose that leveraging the power and utility of existing technologies, such as social media, could innovate the way physical therapists engage patients in rehabilitation and health promotion practices, thus contributing to the evolution of the profession: Physical Therapy 2.0. To continue to be relevant in the community, physical therapist practice must respond to patients' needs and expectations. Incorporating social media into how physical therapists are both designing and delivering care holds potential for enhancing patient engagement in prescribed health behaviors and improving treatment outcomes. This conceptual article presents the perspective that physical therapists can utilize social media to enhance care delivery and treatment outcomes.

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Validation of the Comprehensive ICF Core Set for Vocational Rehabilitation From the Perspective of Physical Therapists: International Delphi Survey

Physical Therapy ◽

10.2522/ptj.20150365 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 96 (8) ◽

pp. 1262-1275 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Veronika M. Kaech Moll ◽

Reuben Escorpizo ◽

Ruth Portmann Bergamaschi ◽

Monika E. Finger

Keyword(s):

Physical Therapy ◽

Vocational Rehabilitation ◽

Content Validity ◽

Physical Therapists ◽

Physical Therapist ◽

Small Sample ◽

World Health ◽

Convenience Sample ◽

Icf Core Set ◽

Core Set

Abstract Background The Comprehensive ICF Core Set for vocational rehabilitation (VR) is a list of essential categories on functioning based on the World Health Organization (WHO) International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF), which describes a standard for interdisciplinary assessment, documentation, and communication in VR. Objective The aim of this study was to examine the content validity of the Comprehensive ICF Core Set for VR from the perspective of physical therapists. Design A 3-round email survey was performed using the Delphi method. Methods A convenience sample of international physical therapists working in VR with work experience of ≥2 years were asked to identify aspects they consider as relevant when evaluating or treating clients in VR. Responses were linked to the ICF categories and compared with the Comprehensive ICF Core Set for VR. Results Sixty-two physical therapists from all 6 WHO world regions responded with 3,917 statements that were subsequently linked to 338 ICF categories. Fifteen (17%) of the 90 categories in the Comprehensive ICF Core Set for VR were confirmed by the physical therapists in the sample. Twenty-two additional ICF categories were identified that were not included in the Comprehensive ICF Core Set for VR. Limitations Vocational rehabilitation in physical therapy is not well defined in every country and might have resulted in the small sample size. Therefore, the results cannot be generalized to all physical therapists practicing in VR. Conclusion The content validity of the ICF Core Set for VR is insufficient from solely a physical therapist perspective. The results of this study could be used to define a physical therapy–specific set of ICF categories to develop and guide physical therapist clinical practice in VR.

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CONTRIBUTIONS OF NONPROFESSIONAL LOCAL PHYSICAL THERAPIST IN THE PROMOTION OF COMMUNITY HEALTH ACTIVITIES IN THE ARSI ZONE, SOUTHEAST ETHIOPIA

Journal of Mechanics in Medicine and Biology ◽

10.1142/s021951942150069x ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

GUTA BULCHA ◽

LETA MELAKU

Keyword(s):

Health Promotion ◽

Physical Therapy ◽

Physical Therapists ◽

Physical Therapist ◽

Sampling Technique ◽

Well Being ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Arsi Zone ◽

Southeast Ethiopia ◽

The Impact

Background: Physical activity is a first-line therapy and secures against persistent illnesses. Essential medical care professionals are obviously situated to advance actual action. Active recuperation mediations are focused on advancement and upkeep of well-being, personal satisfaction and wellness. There is, notwithstanding, a deficiency of such examination proof in Ethiopia. Objective: We planned to assess the degree of KAP of nonprofessional local physical therapists toward well-being advancement in the Arsi Zone of Oromia, Southeast Ethiopia. Methods: A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted in April 2018 among 45 physical therapists. Data were collected using pre-tested, structured and self-administrative questionnaires. Participants were selected by the quota sampling technique. The questionnaire was drafted specifically to test the KAP. Data were double entered and analyzed by SPSS, Version 20.0, program. Descriptive statistics were used. The KAP was estimated using proportion. Result: The present response rate is 90.0%. The ages of respondents ranged between 24 and 87 years. Then, 57.8% of participants got initial physical therapy knowledge from either of their parents. Again, 53.3% of the respondents hear about health promotion from families and friends. Then, 57.8% of them provided health promotion at their workplace. The overall percentage of all the respondents’ KAP in health promotion was 60.1%. Conclusion: The respondents have good KAP toward health promotion. However, there is still room for improvement. Also, there is a lack of proper guidelines in determining the impact of physical therapy.

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Healthcare apps on smartphones available in Brazil: a preliminary classification (Preprint)

10.2196/preprints.20795 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

André De Faria Pereira Neto ◽

Leticia Barbosa ◽

Rodolfo Paolucci

Keyword(s):

Health Promotion ◽

Disease Prevention ◽

Digital Health ◽

Disease Process ◽

World Health ◽

Computing Device ◽

Care Treatment ◽

Wide Range ◽

The World ◽

Health Applications

UNSTRUCTURED Billions of people in the world own a smartphone. It is a low-cost, portable computing device with countless features, among which applications stand out, which are programs or software developed to meet a specific goal. A wide range of applications available ranging from entertainment and personal organization to work and education is available currently. It is a vast and profitable market. Health applications have been a means of intervention for different areas, including chronic diseases, epidemics, and health emergencies. A recently published paper in the journal with the highest impact factor in Digital Health (“Journal of Medical Internet Research”) proposes a classification of health applications. This study performs a critical analysis of this organization and presents other sort criteria. This paper also presents and analyzes the “Meu Info Saúde” (“My Health Info”) app – a pioneering government initiative focused on primary care launched by the Oswaldo Cruz Foundation. The application classification proposal that will be presented builds on the intervention strategies in the health-disease process, namely: “Health Promotion”, “Disease Prevention” and “Care, Treatment and Rehabilitation”, as defined by official documents such as the World Health Organization and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Most applications present in the sample are of private and foreign origin, free to download, but with a display of ads or the sale of products and services. The sampled applications were classified as “Health Promotion”, and some applications have also been categorized as “Disease Prevention” or “Care, Treatment or Rehabilitation” because they have multiple functionalities. The applications identified as “Health Promotion” focused only on individuals’ lifestyle and their increased autonomy and self-care management capacity. From this perspective, the apps analyzed in this paper differ from the “Meu Info-Saúde” application developed at Fiocruz.

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Risk Factors of Metabolic Syndrome among Polish Nurses

Metabolites ◽

10.3390/metabo11050267 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (5) ◽

pp. 267

Author(s):

Anna Bartosiewicz ◽

Edyta Łuszczki ◽

Małgorzata Nagórska ◽

Łukasz Oleksy ◽

Artur Stolarczyk ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Insulin Resistance ◽

Metabolic Syndrome ◽

Weight Control ◽

Professional Group ◽

Overweight And Obesity ◽

World Health ◽

Dietary Recommendations ◽

Obesity Class ◽

The Metabolic Syndrome ◽

The World

The metabolic syndrome, also known as syndrome X or the insulin resistance, is defined by the World Health Organization as a pathologic condition characterized by abdominal obesity, insulin resistance, hypertension, and hyperlipidemia. Both all over the world and in Poland, there is a shortage of nurses; most of those employed are in the pre-retirement age. However, the requirements in this profession and the patient’s right to care at the highest level remain unchanged and do not take into account the poor condition or age of working nurses, so special attention should be paid to the state of health in this professional group. There is an emphasis on the importance of the adopted attitude toward health and the resulting behaviors, such as regular weight control, following dietary recommendations, regular physical activity and participation in preventive examinations. The aim of the study was to assess the frequency of the occurrence of the metabolic syndrome, its individual components and determining the factors influencing its development in Polish nurses. The research conducted among the nurses in question included DXA (Dual Energy X-ray Absorptiometry) measurements, assessment of glucose concentration, lipid profile, blood pressure and a questionnaire survey. Almost half of the surveyed nurses have metabolic syndrome, which significantly increases the risk of developing cardiovascular diseases or diabetes. After multivariate analysis, it was found that being overweight and obesity were significant factors influenced the MS (metabolic syndrome) occurrence among Polish nurses. Being overweight increases the chances of MS occurrence 8.58 times in relation to BMI (Body Mass Index) <25, obesity increases the chances of MS occurrence 8.085 times in relation to BMI <25, and obesity class II/III increases the chances of MS occurrence 16.505 times in relation to BMI <25. Preventive and supportive measures for this professional group are needed.

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Breathing: A Sign of Life and a Unique Area for Reflection and Action

Physical Therapy ◽

10.2522/ptj.20070316 ◽

2008 ◽

Vol 88 (7) ◽

pp. 832-840 ◽

Cited By ~ 23

Author(s):

Kirsten Ekerholt ◽

Astrid Bergland

Keyword(s):

Physical Therapy ◽

Physical Therapist ◽

Well Being ◽

Qualitative Approach ◽

Breathing Patterns ◽

Daily Lives ◽

The World ◽

Body And Soul ◽

Bodily Sensations ◽

Conscious Attention

Background and Purpose The aim of this study was to clarify patients’ experiences of breathing during therapeutic processes in Norwegian psychomotor physical therapy (NPMP). Subjects and Methods A qualitative approach was used based on interviews with 9 women and 1 man aged between 41 and 65 years. The data were analyzed with the aid of grounded theory. Results Three categories were identified from the participants’ experiences: (1) “Breathing: An Incomprehensible and Disparate Phenomenon,” (2) “Breathing: Access to Meaning and Understanding,” and (3) “Breathing: Enhancing Feelings of Mastery.” Initially, breathing difficulties and bodily pains were described as physical reactions that seemed utterly incomprehensible to the participants. Communication, both verbal and nonverbal, between the patient and the physical therapist was described as vitally important, as was conscious attention to occurrences during the treatment sessions. The participants learned to recognize changes in their breathing patterns, and they became familiar with new bodily sensations. Consequently, they acquired new understanding of these sensations. The feeling and understanding of being an entity (ie, “body and soul”) emerged during therapy. The participants increased their understanding of the interaction between breathing and internal and external influences on their well-being. Their feelings of mastery over their daily lives were enhanced. The therapeutic dialogues gave them the chance to explore, reflect, and become empowered. Discussion and Conclusion In experiencing their own breathing, the participants were able to access and identify the muscular and emotional patterns that, linked to particular thoughts and beliefs, had become their characteristic styles of relating to themselves and the world.

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