scholarly journals A mixed-methods survey of physiotherapists who practice acupuncture and dry needling in Ontario, Canada: practice characteristics, motivations, and professional outcomes

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Nadine Ijaz ◽  
Sandy Welsh ◽  
Heather Boon
Keyword(s):  
Online Survey ◽  
Survey Design ◽  
Clinical Results ◽  
Evidence Base ◽  
Dry Needling ◽  
Cross Sectional Survey ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Practice Characteristics ◽  
Professional Outcomes ◽  
Almost All

Abstract Background Physiotherapists (PTs) across the globe are increasingly incorporating filiform needling techniques (e.g., acupuncture, dry needling) into their clinical toolkits; and, the evidence base for these complementary therapies is becoming progressively more robust. However, to date, little is known about needling PTs themselves. Methods Using a cross-sectional survey design, PTs authorized to perform needling therapies in Ontario, Canada were recruited for anonymous participation (n = 2061) in an online survey. The survey asked providers about their demographics and practice characteristics, rationale for and views about therapeutic needling, and their related clinical and professional outcomes. The response rate was 20.7% (n = 426), and 22.3% (n = 95) of respondents provided textual responses to an open-ended qualitative question. Results While study respondents’ demographic features appear similar to their broader professional population, Ontario’s needling PTs are less likely to work in public sector settings. Most completed training in medical acupuncture rather than dry needling, and typically used needling in over one-third of patient visits. Almost all endorsed needling as an effective musculoskeletal treatment, the primary factor informing their adoption of the practice. While many viewed traditional Chinese medical theories as a useful explanatory framework, most relied on biomedical epistemology to drive their needling work. A majority of respondents reported that the inclusion of needling within their clinical toolkits had improved their likelihood of achieving excellent clinical results, helped support patient recruitment and retention, and heightened their professional satisfaction. While a few reported earning a higher income as a result, most reported that their clinical use of needling in addition to other PT modalities reduced their physical fatigue after a day’s work. Conclusions This study represents a first scholarly investigation into the motivations, training backgrounds and practice patterns of PTs who use acupuncture or dry needling. Additional research from other jurisdictions is needed to evaluate the transferability of study findings.

Healthcare Providers’ Attitudes, Knowledge, and Practice Behaviors for Educating Patients About Advance Directives: A National Survey

2018 ◽  
Vol 36 (5) ◽  
pp. 387-395 ◽  
Author(s):  
Frances R. Nedjat-Haiem ◽  
Tamara J. Cadet ◽  
Anup Amatya ◽  
Shiraz I. Mishra
Keyword(s):  
Online Survey ◽  
Survey Design ◽  
Healthcare Providers ◽  
Medical Decision ◽  
Cross Sectional Survey ◽  
Patient Centered ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Practice Behaviors ◽  
Centered Care ◽  
Seriously Ill Patients

Background: Advance care planning for end-of-life care emerged in the mid-1970’s to address the need for tools, such as the advance directive (AD) legal document, to guide medical decision-making among seriously ill patients, their families, and healthcare providers. Objective: Study aims examine providers’ perspectives on AD education that involve examining (1) a range of attitudes about educating patients, (2) whether prior knowledge was associated with practice behaviors in educating patients, and (3) specific factors among healthcare providers such as characteristics of work setting, knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors that may influence AD education and documentation. Design: To examine providers’ views, we conducted a cross-sectional, online survey questionnaire of healthcare providers using social media outreach methods for recruitment. Methods: This study used a cross-sectional survey design to examine the proposed aims. Healthcare providers, recruited through a broad approach using snowball methods, were invited to participate in an online survey. Logistic regression analyses were used to examine providers’ views toward AD education. Results: Of 520 participants, findings indicate that most healthcare providers said that they were knowledgeable about AD education. They also viewed providing education as beneficial to their practice. These findings suggest that having a positive attitude toward AD education and experiencing less organizational barriers indicate a higher likelihood that providers will educate patients regarding ADs. Conclusion: Various disciplines are represented in this study, which indicates that attitudes and knowledge influence AD discussions. The importance of AD discussions initiated by healthcare providers is critical to providing optimal patient-centered care.

FP1-2 Implementation of duty of candor regulation within neurosurgery: a national cross-sectional survey

2019 ◽  
Vol 90 (3) ◽  
pp. e22.3-e22
Author(s):  
HJ Marcus ◽  
P Sayal ◽  
N Kitchen ◽  
B Surajit ◽  
L Thorne
Keyword(s):  
Adverse Events ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Cross Sectional Survey ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Statutory Duty ◽  
Safety Incident ◽  
Patient Safety Incident ◽  
Survey Responses ◽  
Almost All

ObjectivesStatutory Duty of Candor was introduced in 2014 for NHS bodies in England. Contained within the regulation were definitions regarding the threshold for what constitutes a notifiable patient safety incident. The aim of this survey was to evaluate the interpretation of these definitions by British neurosurgeons.MethodsFull members of the SBNS were electronically invited to participate in an online survey. Surgeons were presented with 15 cases and asked to decide in each one whether they would trigger the process of Duty of Candor. Cases were stratified according to their likelihood and severity.ResultsIn all, 106/357 (29.7%) members participated in the survey. Responses varied widely with almost no members triggering the process of Duty of Candor in cases where adverse events were likely (>10% likelihood) and required only outpatient follow up (7/106; 6.6%), and almost all members doing so in cases where adverse events were rare (<0.1% likelihood) and resulted in death (102/106; 96.2%). However, there was clear equipoise in triggering the process of Duty of Candor in cases where adverse events were unlikely (0.1%–10% likelihood) and resulted in moderate harm (38/106; 35.8%), severe harm (57/106; 53.8%), or death (49/106; 46.2%).ConclusionsThere is considerable nationwide variation in the interpretation of definitions regarding the threshold for Duty of Candor; this has important implications with some providers at risk of penalties, and others unduly burdened by the associated administrative processes.

scholarly journals Indications and administration practices amongst medical cannabis healthcare providers: a cross-sectional survey

2019 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jamie Corroon ◽  
Michelle Sexton ◽  
Ryan Bradley
Keyword(s):  
Clinical Practice ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Formal Education ◽  
Clinical Care ◽  
Healthcare Providers ◽  
Common Method ◽  
Medical Cannabis ◽  
Cross Sectional Survey ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Practice Characteristics

Abstract Background The medical use of cannabis has been legislatively restricted for decades in the US and abroad. In recent years, changing local and national policies have given rise to a community of healthcare providers who may be recommending the medical use of cannabis without the benefit of formal clinical practice guidelines or sufficient training and education. In addition, a citizen science movement has emerged whereby unlicensed and untrained individuals are acting as healthcare provider proxies, offering cannabis-specific clinical care to “patients”. This study sought to characterize the clinical practice characteristics of these provider groups. Methods An anonymous, online survey was designed to describe levels of cannabis-specific education, practice characteristics, indications for medical use, dose, administration forms and adverse effects related to cannabis use. The questionnaire was disseminated via professional medical cannabis associations and by word-of-mouth. It was accessed between June 31–December 31, 2018. A self-selecting sample of respondents (n = 171) completed the survey. Results Formal education or training in the medical use of cannabis was significantly more common among licensed respondents than unlicensed respondents (95.5% vs 76.9% respectively, OR, 6.3, 95% CI, 1.2–32.3, p = 0.03). The vast majority (n = 74, 83.15%) of licensed respondents reported having recommended cannabis as an adjunct to an existing prescription drug. Almost two-thirds (n = 64, 71.9%) reported having recommended it as a substitute. When delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) is the principal therapeutic constituent of interest, vaporization is the most common method of administration recommended (n = 94 responses, 71.4% of respondents). In contrast, when cannabidiol (CBD) is the principal therapeutic constituent of interest, oral administration (sublingual or oromucosal absorption) is the most common method (n = 70 responses, 71.4% of respondents). Conclusions Individuals who recommend the medical use of cannabis appear to be self-generating a community standard of practice in the absence of formal clinical guidelines on dosing, interactions and other characteristics. Reducing barriers to clinical research on cannabis products is needed, not only to better understand their risks and benefits, but also to augment the evidence-base for informing clinical practice.

scholarly journals The impact of Saudi lockdown to counter COVID-19

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (3) ◽  
pp. 78-87
Author(s):  
Khaleel I. Alyahya ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Saudi Arabia ◽  
Survey Design ◽  
Age Groups ◽  
Cross Sectional Survey ◽  
Online Questionnaire ◽  
Chi Square ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Social Distancing ◽  
Almost All ◽  
The Impact

The study aimed to assess the impact of awareness of citizens and residents in Saudi Arabia toward the home isolation and social distancing during lockdown that might decrease the outbreak of COVID-19, to measure the importance of social behavior to maintain the constant decline of COVID-19 cases and to determine if there is a difference in the level of awareness and behavior between citizens and residents in Saudi Arabia toward the governmental measures during the pandemic. We have adopted a cross-sectional survey design to investigate the impact of Saudi lockdown on blockade COVID-19 by using an anonymous online questionnaire. The targeted population of the study was Saudi citizens and non-Saudi residents of different ages. The collected data were entered into Microsoft Excel (version 2011) and analyzed by using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS), version 23. The Chi-square test with 95% confidence intervals (CI) was used to examine significant associations between the socio-demographic characteristic of participants, their awareness, and their behavior towards the COVOD-19 pandemic. AP value of <0.05 was considered statistically significant. The total number of the current study participants was 1168. The majority (70.50%) were married males with children (73.50%). Three-quarters of the participants were equally distributed between the age groups of 30-39, 40-49, and 50-59 years old. Almost all (90.90%) of the participants have received higher education, 73.60% living in the central region, and in large and crowded cities (75.30%). More than half (58.50%) of the Saudi respondents know about the coronavirus from media sources, while for the non-Saudis, 54.50% are well informed regarding the virus. The results of the current study revealed that the majority of the population in the country believe in home isolation and social distancing for the COVID-19 blockade. Additionally, they also consider non-compliance to these measures as one the main factor for the disease outbreak. Most of the participants were committed to home isolation, social distancing, and personal protective measures including wearing masks, gloves, and avoiding face contact.

Alcohol Misuse in People with Schizophrenia: Findings from the Paddi (psychiatric and Addictive Dual Diagnosis in Italy) Study

2009 ◽  
Vol 24 (S1) ◽  
pp. 1-1
Author(s):  
G. Carrà ◽  
G. Segagni Lusignani ◽  
P. Sciarini ◽  
P. Borrelli ◽  
I. Popa ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Substance Use ◽  
Dual Diagnosis ◽  
Alcohol Misuse ◽  
Survey Design ◽  
Evidence Base ◽  
Service Planning ◽  
Direct Result ◽  
Comorbid Condition ◽  
Cross Sectional Survey ◽  
Cross Sectional

Background:Comorbid alcohol misuse in schizophrenia and severe mental illness is associated with significant clinical, social and legal problems. An epidemiologically informed approach to planning service delivery requires an understanding of which clinical populations are at particularly high risk for alcohol misuse. Most evidence about the prevalence of this comorbidity comes from the USA, Canada and Australia, and, though at a different pace, also from Europe.Method:A cross-sectional survey design has been used to determine the prevalence In Italy of comorbid drug and alcohol and any - even minor - mental disorders. Staff ratings was used to assess comorbid substance use.Results:Though overall dual diagnosis prevalence is around 2%, significantly higher rates were found in inner cities. Furthermore significant differences were found between different geographical areas (Northern vs. Centre vs. Southern Italy). Peculiar diagnostic subgroups showed higher risk to develop such comorbid condition, whilst a number of clinical and sociodemographic variables, including area of residence, were associated with the risk to develop a dependence syndrome.Conclusions:Sampling and assessment procedures are major limitations which might explain the lower rates as compared with the current Anglo-Saxon literature. However, such variability emphasizes also that high comorbid alcohol misuse rates are not necessarily the direct result of biological features inherent in schizophrenia, but that social factors play an important role. Finally, a number of risk factors associated with dual diagnosis could build up an evidence base about the nature of their substance use, providing targeted service planning and policy making.

scholarly journals Australian Health Professionals’ Attitudes toward Voluntary Assisted Dying: A Cross-Sectional Survey

2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (11) ◽  
pp. 429
Author(s):  
Moira O’Connor ◽  
Charlene Martin ◽  
Lindy Wilmott ◽  
Darren Haywood ◽  
Blake J. Lawrence ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Health Professionals ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Mixed Model ◽  
Linear Mixed Model ◽  
Survey Design ◽  
Assisted Dying ◽  
Cross Sectional Survey ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Australian Health ◽  
Generalised Linear Mixed Model

Voluntary assisted dying (VAD) is when a terminally ill person with decision-making capacity consensually ends their life with assistance from an authorised professional. Many countries have legalised VAD, and health professionals’ roles within VAD frameworks are varied. Health professionals must be well informed of their legal obligations to ensure they practice within the legal boundaries, and those professionals with objections toward VAD should ensure that their eligible patients have equitable access. Given the current landscape of VAD, it is important to understand different health professionals’ attitudes toward VAD and what may underpin these attitudes. We explored (a) Australian health professionals’ attitudes toward VAD; (b) the psychological components that underpin those attitudes; (c) health professionals’ level of knowledge about VAD; (d) health professionals’ most common beliefs, emotions, and experiences related to VAD. A cross-sectional correlational survey design was used. A total of 182 Australian health professionals participated in the online survey based on a tripartite model of attitudes. We conducted a binomial logistic regression through a Generalised Linear Mixed Model and found polarised attitudes toward VAD between health professionals. Attitudes were accounted for by beliefs, emotions, education, and strength of religious beliefs. Knowledge of VAD was low, but not associated with overall attitude in our model. We highlight the importance of reflexive practice to help health professionals identify their values and feelings related to VAD, and to understand how these may affect their clinical practice. Low knowledge of VAD suggests that legislative and procedural training should be mandatory.

scholarly journals Community education and health promotion activities of naturopathic practitioners: results of an international cross-sectional survey

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Amie Steel ◽  
Iva Lloyd
Keyword(s):  
Health Promotion ◽  
Patient Education ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Community Education ◽  
Stakeholder Involvement ◽  
Cross Sectional Survey ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Convenience Sample ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Almost All

Abstract Background Health promotion and patient education are crucial to improved population health and are also among the core principles that define naturopathy. Yet, the activities of naturopathic practitioners (NPs) with regards to health promotion and community education have not been widely studied. Methods A cross-sectional online survey of an international convenience sample of NPs was conducted through disseminating a 15-item questionnaire prepared in five languages. Correlates of most frequently mentioned NP activities were studied. Results The survey was completed by 813 NPs representing all world regions. Almost all participants (98%) reported at least one health promotion activity. Most reported were information sheets and handouts (92.7%) or social and professional network communications (91.8%) and information talks presented to community members (84.9%). The majority of NPs (79.5%) indicated that the ‘health issues individuals in NPs’ community have said they need help with’ were a ‘very important’ consideration when they designed health promotion activities. NP characteristics associated with the likelihood of engaging in specific health promotion activities varied between activities but include gender, time since first qualification, factors considered to identify need when designing an activity, and stakeholder involvement in activity design. Conclusions Health promotion is a key activity of the global naturopathic profession. There are a wide range of patient education tools utilized by NPs.

scholarly journals Conceptualising post-stroke fatigue: a cross-sectional survey of UK-based physiotherapists and occupational therapists

BMJ Open ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (12) ◽  
pp. e033066 ◽  
Author(s):  
Karen Thomas ◽  
Clarissa Hjalmarsson ◽  
Ricky Mullis ◽  
Jonathan Mant
Keyword(s):  
Online Survey ◽  
Medical Condition ◽  
Unmet Need ◽  
Occupational Therapists ◽  
Evidence Base ◽  
Stroke Survivors ◽  
Cross Sectional Survey ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Rehabilitation Care ◽  
Post Stroke

With survival after stroke improving, more people are discharged into the community with multiple and persistent deficits. Fatigue is a common unmet need for stroke survivors, but there are no evidence-based guidelines for its assessment and management. This study explored how UK-based therapists conceptualise post-stroke fatigue (PSF) in current practice.ObjectiveTo describe current understanding of PSF among physiotherapists (PT) and occupational therapists (OT).DesignA cross-sectional online survey using Qualtrics software (a survey creation and analysis programme) was sent to therapists working with stroke survivors in 2019. Responses to the open ended question, ‘How would you describe PSF if approached by another healthcare professional?’ were analysed thematically by two independent researchers.Participants137 survey respondents (71 PT and 66 OT) from a range of clinical settings (25 acute care, 24 sub-acute rehabilitation care, 3 primary care and 85 community care) with 7 months-36 years of experience working with stroke survivors completed the survey.ResultsRespondents stated that PSF should be regarded as an important medical condition because it is common and can be associated with severe symptoms. Symptoms were perceived to be highly variable and the syndrome was difficult to define objectively. It was felt to have both physical and cognitive components. A variety of different opinions were expressed with regard to causation, conceptualisation and best management.ConclusionTherapists working with stroke survivors conceptualise and manage PSF in different ways. Clinical practice is hampered by a lack of a widely adopted definition, and a small evidence base. Research into causes and management of PSF is a priority.

scholarly journals A Survey of Acupuncture-Providing Registered Massage Therapists in Ontario, Canada: Motivation, Training, and Practice Characteristics

2020 ◽  
pp. 18-29
Author(s):  
Nadine Ijaz, MSc, PhD ◽  
Sandy Welsh, PhD ◽  
Heather Boon, BScPhm, PhD
Keyword(s):  
Clinical Supervision ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Survey Design ◽  
Clinical Care ◽  
Clinical Results ◽  
International Standards ◽  
Clinical Experiences ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Needle Technique ◽  
Massage Therapists

Background: An increasing number of licensed massage therapists in several countries are providing acupuncture to their clients, but little is known about this practice. Purpose: To characterize the motivations, training backgrounds, practice patterns, and clinical experiences of licensed massage therapists who perform acupuncture. Research Design: The study used a cross-sectional, online survey design involving acupuncture-providing registered massage therapists (RMTs) in the province of Ontario, Canada, where acupuncture is explicitly permitted within the massage therapy profession’s scope. Analysis involved descriptive statistics and thematic content analysis of qualitative findings. Results: The survey response rate was 33.7% (n=212), representing 25.5% of all Ontario RMTs rostered to practice acupuncture. Participant demographics mirrored the RMT profession as a whole, except that providers were, on average, several years older than other RMTs. Most respondents (72.7%) had completed over 200 hours of training in acupuncture; most training included clean needle technique (96.8%), clinical supervision (93.5%), traditional Chinese medicine content (83.4%), and a final examination (96.8%). Respondents typically used acupuncture in about one-third of their sessions (mean 32.3%, SD 5.0) with an average of 10.5 weekly clients (SD 14.3). Acupuncture-providing RMTs had been initially motivated by acupuncture’s potential effectiveness for musculoskeletal conditions (97.2%), a wish to attract more clients (61.3%), and physical fatigue from delivering manual therapies (48.3%). Most reported being more likely to achieve excellent clinical results (84.9%), experience greater professional satisfaction (79.9%), and attract or retain clients (64.8%) since using acupuncture. A minority also reported earning a higher income (34.6%) and experiencing more adverse events in practice (21.5%). Qualitative responses added explanatory nuance to numeric results. Conclusions: This study of the use of acupuncture by Ontario’s licensed massage therapists represents a first scholarly account of an emerging global trend that holds promise in enhancing clinical care, professional stability, and provider longevity. Additional research is needed to investigate the practice’s use in other jurisdictions, and to establish international standards for safe and effective practice.

scholarly journals Athletic Training Students' Perceptions of Electronic Textbooks and Computer use in the Classroom

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christopher Brown ◽  
Shannon David ◽  
Michele Monaco
Keyword(s):  
Athletic Training ◽  
Computer Use ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Survey Design ◽  
Athletic Training Students ◽  
Cross Sectional Survey ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Electronic Textbooks ◽  
Use Of Technology ◽  
Secondary Methods

Purpose: Academia is currently seeing a surge in technology integration in the classroom. Electronic textbooks (e-textbooks) is expected to grow exponentially in the future. Although there is a rush in use of technology in academia, few studies have evaluated perceptions of electronic textbooks especially among athletic training students. The purpose of this study is to identify athletic training student computer use, if athletic students are using electronic textbooks, and to help understand their perceptions of those electronic texts. Method: A cross sectional survey design was utilized. Participants completed a self-reported online survey. A survey link was emailed to athletic training faculty in 360 undergraduate programs to be forwarded to their students. The survey contained an informed consent item followed by 37 items (6 demographic) related to perceptions of electronic textbooks. Data analysis used descriptive statistics. Results: A total of 861 athletic training students completed the survey. When students were asked about their preference for e-textbooks or traditional textbooks, 69% prefer a traditional textbook while 22% state they had never had the opportunity to work with an e-textbook. A majority of students (96.4%) feel comfortable with computers. A large number of students (43.1%) respond they are not aware e-textbooks exist for athletic training courses. The primary reasons students prefer traditional textbooks over e-textbooks are ease of reading, followed by ease of note taking. Conclusions: The majority of athletic training students, who fall in the age range of the Millennial Generation, prefer traditional textbooks over e-textbooks. Educators should continue to utilize traditional textbooks as a primary method of learning while incorporating technology such as e-textbooks as secondary methods.

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