142nd APHA Annual Meeting and Exposition

Home Events & Meetings Annual Meeting Schedule & Program

Online Program

Annual Meeting Recordings are now available for purchase

297356
Increasing physical therapist recommendations to evidence-based physical activity and self-management education programs: Results of a survey of physical therapists

142nd APHA Annual Meeting and Exposition (November 15 - November 19, 2014): http://www.apha.org/events-and-meetings/annual
Monday, November 17, 2014

Jennifer Berktold, PhD , Health Studies, Westat, Rockville, MD
Erika Bonilla , Westat, Rockville, MD
Mari Brick, MA , Arthritis Council, National Association of Chronic Disease Directors, Voorheesville, NY
Jennie Hefelfinger , National Association of Chronic Disease Directors, Atlanta, GA
Anita Bemis-Dougherty, PT, DPT, MAS , American Physical Therapy Association, Alexandria, VA
Marc Goldstein , American Physical Therapy Association, Alexandria, VA
Penney Cowan , American Chronic Pain Association, Rocklin, CA
Sarah Miller , American Physical Therapy Association, Alexandria, VA
Background: In an effort to increase participation in community-based physical activity (PA) and self-management education (SME) programs, the NACDD—in partnership with the CDC, American Physical Therapy Association (APTA), and American Chronic Pain Association—is developing materials that encourage physical therapists (PTs) to recommend evidence-based programs to individuals with arthritis and other chronic diseases. Formative research was conducted to understand PTs’ awareness of these community-based programs, identify information that would encourage PTs recommendations to patients, and explore PTs' preferences for learning about these programs.

Methods: An online survey of 973 APTA members likely to treat individuals with arthritis was conducted August-September 2013. Survey participants were practicing PTs with >50% adult patient base.

Results: Approximately 75% of PTs were very likely to recommend PA programs and 54% of PTs were very likely to recommend SME programs to their patients. However, PTs had distinct information needs for PA and SME programs, drawing from differing levels of familiarity with PA and SME programs (unaided awareness: 67% vs. 22%, respectively). For PA programs, PTs prioritized information about instructor training and the evidence base, and they voiced concerns about instructor qualifications, ability to individualize the program, and program accessibility. For SME programs, PTs wanted information about the evidence base and how the programs will benefit their patients. They voiced concerns about quality of peer instruction, and there was a perception among some PTs that they already do this work.

Implications: PTs’ unique information needs should be taken into account when messaging to this audience about PA/SME programs.

Learning Areas:

Chronic disease management and prevention
Communication and informatics
Planning of health education strategies, interventions, and programs
Public health or related research

Learning Objectives:
Describe physical therapists’ information needs for community-based physical activity and self-management education interventions Identify messages that will facilitate physical therapists’ recommendations of community-based physical activity and self-management education interventions to appropriate individuals with arthritis.

Keyword(s): Community-Based Health, Self-Management

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I was the study director for this project, and I have been the principal of several research and evaluation projects focusing on the implementation and dissemination of community-based self management education and physical activity programs.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.

Back to: 3291.0: Health-Related Behaviors in Older Adults