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Introduction: Alcohol use disorder (AUD) is a psychiatric disease that affects approximately 10% of the population. Individuals suffer from a myriad of causes and consequences of AUD, and team-based management of patients is often required for given the chronic and complex nature of the disease. Interprofessional education (IPE) for biomedical science and health professional students that incorporates patient-centered cases focused on AUD and adjacent stress-related disorders may improve future collaboration in managing these conditions and community outcomes related to wellbeing. Methods: This study assessed the impact of a single, 90-minute IPE exercise on improving confidence in possessing the knowledge and skills required for screening and management of patients at risk for AUD, the role of social determinants in health and stress-related diseases, and the importance of supporting the mental health of professionals to improve patient care. The exercise was provided to three groups of post-baccalaureate students (physician assistant [PA], physical therapy [PT], and biomedical sciences [BMS] graduate programs) within a human physiology course. Pre- and post-test surveys were administered via web-based platform before and after the session. Results: We found significant improvements in responses to seven of the eight assessment questions, including improved knowledge of one's role in biomedical research or brief interventions for alcohol misuse, increased confidence in advising patients and community members about responsible alcohol drinking, and improved understanding of the role of all three professions (PA, PT, and BMS) in managing, treating, or researching stress-related disorders. Discussion: These findings suggest that a single focused IPE session is impactful for improving student knowledge and understanding of stress-related disorders. IPE may represent an important educational strategy to bring together future scientists and health professionals to reflect upon unique and shared knowledge bases as well as integrative care principles for both patient and professional wellbeing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: This review explores the role of physiotherapy in early and traditional palliative care (PC) for cancer patients, focusing on its effects on patient-reported outcomes (PROMs) such as fatigue, pain, and quality of life (QoL). The findings suggest that certain physiotherapy interventions, like cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and massage, can improve these outcomes, while others show limited or no significant benefits. However, the overall quality of the studies reviewed was low, highlighting the need for more rigorous research in this area to better understand how physiotherapy can support patients in PC. Background: This review aims to explore the role of physiotherapy in early and traditional palliative care (PC) for oncology patients, focusing on its impact on six patient-reported outcomes (PROMs), namely fatigue, pain, cachexia, quality of life (QoL), physical functioning (PHF), and psychosocial functioning (PSF). The purpose is to assess the effectiveness of various physiotherapy interventions and identify gaps in the current research to understand their potential benefits in PC better. Methods: A systematic literature search was conducted across PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science, concluding on 21 December 2023. Two independent reviewers screened the articles for inclusion. The Cochrane Risk of Bias Tool 2 was employed to assess the risk of bias, while the GRADE approach was used to evaluate the certainty of the evidence. Results: Nine randomized controlled trials (RCTs) were included, with most showing a high risk of bias, particularly in outcome measurement and missing data. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) was the only intervention that significantly reduced fatigue, enhanced PHF, and improved QoL and emotional functioning. Graded exercise therapy (GET) did not yield significant results. Combined interventions, such as education with problem-solving or nutritional counseling with physical activity, showed no significant effects. Massage significantly improved QoL and reduced pain, while physical application therapies were effective in pain reduction. Mindful breathing exercises (MBE) improved QoL but had a non-significant impact on appetite. The overall certainty of the evidence was low. Conclusions: Physiotherapy can positively influence PROMs in oncology PC; however, the low quality and high risk of bias in existing studies highlight the need for more rigorous research to confirm these findings and guide clinical practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The LBP-related attitudes and beliefs of clinicians may impact the experience of patients by influencing clinician decision-making and by shaping the attitudes, beliefs, and actions of patients. The purpose of this study was to identify the specific LBP-related attitudes and beliefs of US-based physical therapists and determine if those beliefs correlate with clinical decision-making. Methods: An electronic survey was sent to US-based physical therapists. Attitudes and beliefs were measured using the Health Care Providers' Pain and Impairment Relationship Scale (HC-PAIRS) and the Pain and Impairment Relationship Scale for Physiotherapists (PABS-PT). The survey also included 2 patient vignettes that collected information about clinical decision-making. Results: Complete survey responses were recorded from 420 physical therapists. Eleven of the 27 attitude and beliefs questions were answered in a more biomedically oriented way by at least 20% of respondents. Physical therapist low back pain-related attitudes and beliefs were associated with activity and management strategies for both vignettes in the expected direction. Higher scores on HC-PAIRS and PABS-BM were associated with more restrictive work and activity recommendations, lower-intensity exercise choices, biomechanical rationale for manual therapy and motor control exercises, pathoanatomical-focused education, and use of modalities. Conclusion: Some physical therapists hold biomedically oriented beliefs about the connection between pain and physical activity. Clinician beliefs were associated with activity and work recommendations, and treatment choices. Physical therapists with more biomedically oriented beliefs were more likely to limit physical activity and work, and less likely to incorporate psychologically informed interventions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Anomalous gait after total hip arthroplasty (THA), marked by increased trunk lateral flexion during weight-bearing, is a noteworthy aspect to consider for enhancing ambulatory capacity. One potential training modality that is feasible in the early post-THA period is lateral weight shifting during double-leg standing. However, the influence of physical therapists' instructional guidance on trunk lateral flexion and hip abductor muscle activity in this context remains unclear. To investigate the influence of physical therapist's guidance directed towards reducing the trunk lateral flexion angle during lateral weight-shifting in double-leg standing post-THA. Twenty THA patients, assessed at 2 weeks postoperatively, performed lateral weight-shifting under two conditions: the normal condition and the instructed condition, for comparison. The latter involved tactile and verbal guidance guidance to minimize trunk lateral flexion. Patients were categorized based on trunk flexion direction for comparison, exploring the correlations between hip abductor muscle activity and kinematic parameters. In the instructed condition, a significant reduction in trunk lateral flexion and increased hip lever arm length were observed compared to those in the normal condition. Patients with trunk flexion towards the operated side exhibited a notable reduction, while those on the non-operated side showed no significant changes. Gluteus medius muscle activity correlated with trunk lateral flexion, and tensor fasciae latae muscle activity correlated with body's center of mass lateral displacement and hip adduction angle. Physical therapist's guidance influenced lateral weight-shifting in double-leg standing post-THA. Differences in the trunk lateral flexion direction may lead to different effects from the guidance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Alaa M Albishi, Hanan M Al-Ageel, Sami S AlAbdulwahab Department of Health Rehabilitation Sciences, College of Applied Medical Sciences, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi ArabiaCorrespondence: Alaa M Albishi; Hanan M Al-Ageel, King Saud University, P.O. Box 10219, Riyadh, 11433, Saudi Arabia, Email aalbeshi@ksu.edu.sa; hanan4pt@gmail.comBackground: Bell’s Palsy (BP) is an acute lower motor nerve impairment of the facial nerve, causing sudden paralysis on one side of the face and significantly affecting the patient’s quality of life. Physiotherapy is critical for rehabilitation after BP, aiding functional recovery. Various physical therapy interventions, such as dry needling, taping, and nerve mobilization, have proven effective in treating BP. However, different rehabilitation approaches and knowledge levels among therapists can result in varying treatment outcomes. Therefore, understanding rehabilitation specialists’ knowledge and attitudes towards BP is essential for ensuring effective treatment. To date, no studies have examined the knowledge and attitudes of rehabilitation professionals in Saudi Arabia regarding BP.Objective: This study aims to evaluate the knowledge and attitudes of physical therapists in Saudi Arabia regarding the rehabilitation of BP.Methods: A cross-sectional observational study was conducted with 150 licensed physical therapists in Saudi Arabia, selected via convenience sampling. Participants completed an anonymous online survey covering demographics, knowledge of, and attitudes toward BP rehabilitation techniques. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to analyze the data.Results: The participants had a mean age of 33.13 ± 6.85 years, with 68.7% being female. Most held Bachelor’s degrees (65.3%) and worked in general hospitals (72.7%). The average knowledge score was 8.99 ± 1.95, indicating moderate knowledge levels. Attitudes towards BP rehabilitation were positive, particularly regarding early intervention, emotional support, and coordination exercises. Significant differences in knowledge and attitudes were observed based on gender, experience, and practice location.Conclusion: Physical therapists in Saudi Arabia demonstrate moderate knowledge and positive attitudes toward BP rehabilitation. Continued professional education and collaboration are recommended to improve clinical standards in treating BP.Keywords: Bell’s palsy, facial palsy, mime therapy, physical therapist, rehabilitation, knowledge, Attitudes, Saudi Arabia

Background: This study assessed the beliefs and knowledge of physical therapists in Saudi Arabia regarding the management of patellofemoral pain (PFP) and their alignment with current Clinical Practice Guidelines (CPGs). Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted, involving 111 licensed physical therapists actively treating PFP patients. The survey included questions about PFP risk factors, prognosis, diagnosis, and treatment, using a Likert scale to measure confidence and knowledge. Results: Readers have significantly greater confidence in the knowledge of managing patients with PFP following current CPGs (p < 0.01). No significant differences were observed between groups in the other items (p > 0.01). However, over 70% of respondents, irrespective of guideline familiarity, held beliefs about risk factors, prognosis, diagnosis, and treatment that were inconsistent with CPGs. Conclusions: These discrepancies highlight a significant knowledge gap that may affect patient care quality. Enhancing education and dissemination efforts regarding CPGs is essential to improve adherence to evidence-based practices among physical therapists in Saudi Arabia. To change practitioners' preferences, attitudes, and beliefs, more targeted programs and interventions for knowledge dissemination and implementation should be provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective Background Methods Results Conclusion The objective of this pilot study was to assess physical therapists’ (PTs) knowledge and needs regarding headache diagnosis and management.While there is significant research on physical therapy and cervicogenic headache, studies suggest that migraine is often under‐recognized, misdiagnosed, and inadequately treated across society despite its high prevalence and burden. Because migraine commonly includes concurrent neck pain and/or vestibular symptoms, patients with migraine may present to PTs for treatment. Very little is known about PTs' headache and migraine education, knowledge, and clinical practices.A team of headache specialists and PTs adapted a previously used headache knowledge and needs assessment survey to help ascertain PTs' knowledge and needs regarding headache treatment. The cross‐sectional survey was distributed online via Research Electronic Data Capture (REDCap) to PTs within a large healthcare system in Connecticut.An estimated 50.5% (101/200) of PTs invited to complete the survey did so. Only 37.6% (38/101) of respondents reported receiving any formal headache or migraine education in their professional training, leading to knowledge gaps in differentiating and responding to headache subtypes. Only 45.5% (46/101) were able to identify that migraine is characterized by greater pain intensity than tension‐type headache, and 22.8% (23/101) reported not knowing the duration of untreated migraine. When asked about the aspects of care they believe their patients with headache would like to see improved, PTs reported education around prevention and appropriate medication use (61/100 [61.0%]), provider awareness of the degree of disability associated with migraine (51/100 [51.0%]), and diagnostics (47/100 [47.0%]).This sample of PTs from one healthcare system demonstrates knowledge gaps and variations in clinical practice for managing their patients with headache. Future research on integrating additional opportunities for headache education for physical therapists, including evidence‐based behavioral therapies, is needed to ascertain whether it is likely to improve patient care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractPurposeMethodsResultsConclusionsThe aim of the research is to determine the biomedical and biopsychosocial approaches of Turkish physiotherapists towards chronic non-specific low back pain (CNLBP) and related factors.This research, planned as a cross-sectional study, was completed with the inclusion of 134 physiotherapists using the online survey method. Attitudes and beliefs of Turkish physiotherapists regarding CNLBP were evaluated using Health Care Providers’ Pain and Impairment Relationship Scale (HC-PAIRS), Pain Attitudes and Beliefs Scale for Physiotherapists (PABS-PT) and Revised Neurophysiology of Pain Questionnaire (RNPQ). The characteristics of the participants were also evaluated. Spearman’s correlation and simple linear regression analysis were conducted between the characteristics and attitudes and beliefs of Turkish physiotherapists towards CNLBP.Simple linear regression analysis showed presence of training on low back pain (LBP) was associated with lower HC-PAIRS scores. Relationship between professional experience and the biomedical (r: −0.205, p: .018) and biopsychosocial orientation (r: −0.180, p: .038) was observed. Additionally, higher level of education was associated with higher RNPQ scores (r: 0.193, p: .025).The results of the study show that factors such as education level, years of professional experience and receiving training on LBP affect Turkish physiotherapists’ attitudes and beliefs towards CN. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

IntroductionObjectiveMethodResultsConclusionDigital options for osteoarthritis (OA) treatment are increasingly available with high patient satisfaction and acceptability. Little is, however, known about physical therapists’ (PT) perception of this treatment modality.To investigate PT’s experience of delivering digital treatment for hip and knee OA using a smart-phone application.Nine PTs (mean age 36 years, women n = 5) with 3–24 months experience of delivering digital OA treatment were interviewed using a semi-structured interview guide. The interviews were transcribed verbatim and analyzed using content analysis.Four main categories arose; 1) A feeling of being part of the future, 2) Making an osteoarthritis diagnosis in a digital setting, 3) Facilitators and barriers of digital OA management and 4) Where to go from here? PTs were in general positive for digital treatment delivery but felt that a lack of visual assessments and physical examinations to enhance exercise evaluations and diagnosis accuracy was sometimes a disadvantage.Digital treatment delivery was in general perceived as a time-efficient way of providing high-quality care that may increase patient motivation and adherence without violating the therapeutic alliance. Future implementations of digital OA treatment programs should consider the possibility of including real-time video calls for visual assessment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Patients' characteristics are associated with physiotherapists' workload in the ICU. • A service structure should be considered for human resource allocation. • Evidence-based recommendations should guide the caseload of ICU physiotherapists. To identify predictive factors for the length of physiotherapy sessions for adult intensive care unit (ICU) patients. Longitudinal panel study. ICU of a secondary-care public teaching hospital, the University Hospital at the University of Sao Paulo, Brazil. Medical and surgical patients who received physiotherapy (N=181) assessed in 339 physiotherapy sessions. Interventions: Not applicable. The study investigator followed physiotherapists during their work shift and timed the physiotherapy session's length with a stopwatch. The association between session length and patient, physiotherapist, and service-related factors was evaluated by a mixed model. Assessed in this study were 339 physiotherapy sessions during 79 periods of observation that involved 181 patients and 19 physiotherapists. Median session length was 29 (interquartile range: 22.6-38.9) minutes; median number of patients assisted per physiotherapist per 6-hour shift was 5 (4-5). Physiotherapist's median age was 35 (26-39) years old, and median ICU experience was 13.0 (0.4-16.0) years. Patients were mostly older adults who were post surgery and had been at the ICU for 5 (2-9) days. Factors associated with physiotherapy session length (min) were the following: performing both motor- and respiratory-related physiotherapy procedures during the session (β=6.5; 95% confidence interval [CI], 3.8-9.2), altered chest x-ray (β=2.8; 95% CI, 0.3-5.3), ICU mobility scale (IMS) (β=1.2; 95% CI, 0.4-2.0), contraindication to any level of out-of-bed mobilization (β=–6.9; 95% CI, –10.5 to –3.3), afternoon shift (β=–4.0; 95% CI, –6.7 to –1.4), and Barthel index (β=–0.2; 95% CI, –0.3 to –0.1). The factors associated with longer session lengths were performing both motor- and respiratory-related physiotherapy procedures during the session, altered chest x-ray, and the IMS. Contraindication to any level of out-of-bed mobilization and sessions performed during the afternoon shift (vs the morning shift) were associated with shorter session lengths. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

IntroductionIn rehabilitation practices, expert therapists are believed to proficiently observe and assist patients. However, limited research has quantified the gaze behaviors of physical therapists during patient support. This study investigated the gaze patterns of expert and novice physical therapists from a first-person perspective during the process of assisting collaborators to stand. The aim was to determine which body parts received prolonged attention and to explore the characteristics of the support provided.MethodsSeven experienced physical therapists were recruited as expert participants, and 17 physical therapy students served as novice participants. We also recruited additional students as collaborators and asked them to behave as if they were patients. Both expert and novice participants wore a wearable eye tracker while assisting the collaborators to stand. We analyzed the gaze focus on specific body parts and the center of mass sway of the collaborators.ResultsExperts spent 10.75% of the total time gazing at the head area, compared to 4.06% for novices, with experts displaying significantly longer gaze durations (p

Introduction: Health professions education is challenging in terms of developing ways to construct and assess the amalgamation of knowledge, skills and attitudes that result in novice graduatesto be self aware and confident to practice without supervision. Currently, the Physiotherapy internship program in India does not have a comprehensive competency-based framework. Withthe current batch of interns facing the wrath of the COVID-19 pandemic during their undergraduate training, it is a matter of concern to ensure they have developed the required competencies to treat patients independently.Methods: This is a single-group interventional study using convenience sampling. A competency framework inclusive of a comprehensive assessment and training module was developed and introduced to 27 physiotherapy interns. Every intern underwent 10 training sessions along with 8 competency assessments during 6 months of internship training. A pre-post indigenous questionnaire was used to assess their self-perceived competency along with feedback questionnaire taken at the end of the module.Results: Implementation of the competency framework revealed a statistically significant difference in the self-perceived competency (pre=84.36±10.98, post=98.55±8.74, P≤0.000). Having uniformity in assessment techniques among the faculty, being exposed to challenging cases during assessment, having training module at the beginning of the internship were some of the suggestions given by the participants.Conclusion: Competency based education offers to be an effective technique in health professional program. Incorporating a competency-based training would help the learners tounderstand their strengths and weaknesses that would go a long way to develop competent health-care professionals. Developing such framework in curriculum will emphasize standardization of learning outcomes, thereby resulting in quality education, furtherenhancing patient care, and improving the health outcomes worldwide.

Background: The Quality of Patient-Surgeon Relationship (QPASREL) is an 11-item questionnaire developed and validated to assess the relationship between practitioners and patients on recovery and return to work after surgery. Purpose: To evaluate the association of patient-surgeon relationship (PSR) and patient-physical therapist relationship (PPR), as measured by QPASREL, with a patient's return to sports (RTS) after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR). Study Design: Case-control study; Level of evidence, 3. Methods: This study targeted patients who underwent primary ACLR at a specialized sports surgery referral center between January and May 2021. Patients who had revision surgery, multiligamentous knee injury, and sedentary status were excluded from the study. Patients were grouped based on ability to RTS at the preinjury level 1 year postoperatively (RTS group and no-RTS group). The primary outcome was rate of RTS at 1 year postoperatively, and the primary dependent variables were the quality of PSR and PPR as measured by QPASREL scores at 6-month intervals. Secondary outcomes were the correlation and discriminative capacity of the QPASREL compared with the Anterior Cruciate Ligament–Return to Sport After Injury (ACL-RSI) scores (collected at 6-month intervals). Results: The study included 243 patients. Patients in the RTS group exhibited a higher mean PPR QPASREL score (36.6 ± 5.1) compared with no-RTS patients (34.8 ± 5.2; P =.01) as well as a higher mean PSR score (35.7 ± 5.1) compared with no-RTS patients (33.8 ± 5.9; P =.01). Multivariate analysis showed that every 5-point increase in the QPASREL scores for PPR and PSR resulted in a 39% (odds ratio [OR] = 1.39; P = 0.014) and 35% (OR = 1.35, P = 0.021) increased odds of RTS, respectively. A weak yet positive correlation was found between QPASREL and ACL-RSI. The predictive capacity of the QPASREL (area under the curve [AUC] = 0.60 for PPR and 0.61 for PSR), although significant, was less powerful compared with that of the ACL-RSI (AUC = 0.73). Conclusion: The quality of the PPR and PSR, as measured by QPASREL scores, demonstrated a significant association with RTS rates at 1 year after ACLR. A weak yet positive correlation was found between QPASREL and ACL-RSI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A clinical practice guideline on telerehabilitation was developed by an American Physical Therapy Association volunteer guideline development group consisting of international physical therapists and physiotherapists, a physician, and a consumer. The guideline was based on systematic reviews of current scientific literature, clinical information, and accepted approaches to telerehabilitation in physical therapist practice. Seven recommendations address the impact of, preparation for, and implementation of telerehabilitation in physical therapist practice. Research recommendations identify current gaps in knowledge. Overall, with shared decision-making between clinicians and patients to inform patients of service delivery options, direct and indirect costs, barriers, and facilitators of telerehabilitation, the evidence supports the use of telerehabilitation by physical therapists for both examination and intervention. The Spanish and Chinese versions of this clinical practice guideline, as well as the French version of the recommendations, are available as supplementary material (Suppl. Materials). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Physiotherapy involves the recovery of functionality and the reduction of disability in people affected by a physical and/or mental condition that does not allow their adequate interaction with their environment. In the middle of the 20th century, Physiotherapy became a profession inserted in the field of care and health care, so its exercise requires academic, ethical training and specific skills that allow the best possible exercise. This review presents a description of the current panorama of disability and Physiotherapy in Mexico. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context: Job satisfaction is an integral part of an individual's Professional life. It denotes to the worker's perception of their workplace settings, relationships among fellows, salary as well as endorsement opportunities. Aim: To determine job satisfaction among physiotherapists working as academicians in Gujarat, India. Study design: A Cross‐Sectional Study. Methods and Material: A self‐administered questionnaire was used for data collection. The questionnaire was developed on Google Forms and consisted of 15 closed questions, equally distributed on job and career satisfaction, eight of which focused on job satisfaction, and seven on career satisfaction. The socio‐demographic factor and work related factor questions were also added to the questionnaire. A total of 102 responses were received and recorded on an Excel spreadsheet for further data analysis. Statistical analysis used: Descriptive analysis and Chi‐square test were performed using SPSS. Results: The respondents from different colleges working in government or private colleges, different age groups, marital status and having children or no children and different years of job experience showed non‐significant differences in the job satisfaction (p value > 0.05). There was a significant difference in gender and salary the respondents received (p value < 0.05). The study revealed that from a total of 26 (100%) male participants, 10 (38.5%) male participants were satisfied and 16 (61.5%) male were dissatisfied, whereas from a total of 76 (100%) female participants, 58 (76.3) female were satisfied and 18 (23.7%) female were dissatisfied. Conclusion: Majority of physiotherapists in the current study were satisfied with their job and career, but different factors need to be considered in order to gain high satisfaction in different factors of job satisfaction. The study also concluded major dissatisfaction in salary. Recognition in the society and research opportunities in India. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

IntroductionAlcohol use disorder (AUD) is a psychiatric disease that affects approximately 10% of the population. Individuals suffer from a myriad of causes and consequences of AUD, and team-based management of patients is often required for given the chronic and complex nature of the disease. Interprofessional education (IPE) for biomedical science and health professional students that incorporates patient-centered cases focused on AUD and adjacent stress-related disorders may improve future collaboration in managing these conditions and community outcomes related to wellbeing.MethodsThis study assessed the impact of a single, 90-minute IPE exercise on improving confidence in possessing the knowledge and skills required for screening and management of patients at risk for AUD, the role of social determinants in health and stress-related diseases, and the importance of supporting the mental health of professionals to improve patient care. The exercise was provided to three groups of post-baccalaureate students (physician assistant [PA], physical therapy [PT], and biomedical sciences [BMS] graduate programs) within a human physiology course. Pre- and post-test surveys were administered via web-based platform before and after the session.ResultsWe found significant improvements in responses to seven of the eight assessment questions, including improved knowledge of one’s role in biomedical research or brief interventions for alcohol misuse, increased confidence in advising patients and community members about responsible alcohol drinking, and improved understanding of the role of all three professions (PA, PT, and BMS) in managing, treating, or researching stress-related disorders.DiscussionThese findings suggest that a single focused IPE session is impactful for improving student knowledge and understanding of stress-related disorders. IPE may represent an important educational strategy to bring together future scientists and health professionals to reflect upon unique and shared knowledge bases as well as integrative care principles for both patient and professional wellbeing.

Introduction It has been a long time since the emergence of COVID-19 in China and its spread worldwide. Vaccines are a promising solution to overcome COVID-19 infection. Still, vaccine hesitancy is the only barrier to controlling the pandemic, as thinking about its side effects induces psychological exhaustion. There is still a lack of research targeting the mental health of Physical Therapists (PTs), especially during the late stage of the COVID-19 pandemic, so the study’s main aim was to identify the prevalence of anxiety, depression and insomnia and identify risk factors that influence anxiety and depression. Methods A cross-sectional online survey via anonymous questionnaires and questions about socio-demographic information was launched on social media in the second half of February 2021. Results Prevalence of anxiety, depression, and insomnia was 42.7%, 50.10%, and 89.30%, respectively, among physical therapists. Common factors that induce anxiety and depression were having children and needing psychological support. Other risk factors for anxiety only were working in a quarantine hospital, being infected with COVID-19, self-isolation after return from the hospital, and hesitance about vaccine effectiveness. Treating COVID-19 patients and having a family member who had died from COVID-19 were risk factors for depression. Consulting a psychiatrist reduced this risk of depression. Conclusions Elevated mental health disturbances triggered the alarm for urgent psychological rehabilitation to prevent the failure of health care systems in this critical period. Additionally, fighting the anti-vaccine movement should be a priority along with enhancing telerehabilitation programs in hospitals.

Abstract Background The scope and content of pregraduate education in renal rehabilitation, a comprehensive program for patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD), at training institutions remain unclear. Therefore, this cross-sectional study aimed to evaluate the state of renal rehabilitation education at physical therapy schools in Japan via a survey. Methods Questionnaire forms were distributed to instructors responsible for physical therapy across 277 physical therapy schools in Japan. The questionnaire comprised items that assessed the opinions of the respondents on the necessity of learning renal rehabilitation during their student days and after graduation and the content covered at institutions that offered classes on renal rehabilitation. The participating institutions were divided into Renal Rehab Education and No Renal Rehab Education groups. Fisher’s exact and chi-squared tests were used to compare variables between the groups. Results Among the 154 schools that responded to the survey between 14 June 2023 and 31 August 2023 (response rate 55.6%), 123 schools (79.9%) were included in the Renal Rehab Education group. The percentage of classes on rehabilitation for patients with endocrine/metabolic diseases, digestive system diseases, and cancer was higher in the Renal Rehab Education group than that in the No Renal Rehab Education group (P = 0.02, P

Background Physiotherapy in palliative oncology patients is less discussed in literature and needs to be thoroughly investigated. Aim The aim of this study was to gather and analyze the available evidence on the effect of physiotherapy in oncology patients who require palliative care. Design This review was conducted by including studies published in the last 23 years, using PubMed and Web of Science as databases. Out of 933 studies, only ten articles met the inclusion criteria. These studies were: (1) randomized Controlled Trials published after the year 2000; (2) written in English, Dutch or translated into one of these two languages; (3) primarily oncological, palliative patients; and (4) examining interventions within the scope of the physiotherapist's role. Results The 10 included studies were all of medium and low quality due to risk of bias. This can be explained by the small sample sizes and consequently power of the studies. Overall, the effect on muscle strength and peripheral neuropathy were proven to be significant by multiple studies (n=2). There was also an impact on psychological outcome measures, quality of life and other physical outcome measures, but these showed differences in significance between several studies. Conclusions The results reveal many benefits of physiotherapy in this setting. They highlight the need to provide these services to ensure a better quality of life. However, larger studies of higher methodological quality are needed to understand these effects, and to support the development of specific guidelines for treating palliative oncology patients.

Introduction: Physical therapists (PTs) are essential providers within the Hemophilia Treatment Centers (HTCs) team caring for persons with inherited blood disorders (PWBD). Objective: Little is known regarding PTs understanding and concordance of MASAC PT Recommendations (MASAC#238), educational resources used to maintain competency and support for a mentorship programme. Methods: PTs at federally funded HTCs were eligible to participate in a descriptive non‐validated study exploring: (i) demographics, (ii) educational background, (iii) experience in evaluation and treatment of PWBD, (iv) practice patterns indicative of concordance with MASAC#238 and (v) opinion regarding PT mentorship. Results: Respondents experience caring for PWBD ranged 1–36 years, treating both adults and children. Although most acknowledged awareness of MASAC#238, dropout (14/44, 31.8%) was noted; 28/30 (93.3%) who continued were aware of the recommendations. Level of concordance with MASAC#238 varied (range 64.3%–96.2%) regarding: signs/symptoms, treatment of muscle/joint bleeding and pre/post synovectomy and knee replacement treatment. Many PTs identified patients as individual and unique, thus not all recommendations may apply. PTs utilised available educational programmes. No relationships were noted regarding years of practice, education and years caring for PWBD. All respondents favoured a mentorship programme citing benefits, but also outlined barriers. Conclusions: Provision of necessary financial support for optimal function of a full‐time PT within the HTC can enhance standards of care for PWBD. Supporting educational opportunities may enhance concordance with current MASAC PT Recommendations. Respondents valued development of a structured, hands‐on mentorship programme. MASAC#23 has recently been updated in May 2023 to MASAC#275. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction. It has been a long time since the emergence of COVID -19 in China and its spread worldwide. Vaccines are a promising solution to overcome COVID -19 infection. Still, vaccine hesitancy is the only barrier to controlling the pandemic, as thinking about its side effects induces psychological exhaustion. There is still a lack of research targeting the mental health of Physical Therapists (PTs), especially during the late stage of the COVID -19 pandemic, so the study's main aim was to identify the prevalence of anxiety, depression and insomnia and identify risk factors that influence anxiety and depression. Methods. A cross-sectional online survey via anonymous questionnaires and questions about socio-demographic information was launched on social media in the second half of February 2021. Results. Prevalence of anxiety, depression, and insomnia was 42.7%, 50.10%, and 89.30%, respectively, among physical therapists. Common factors that induce anxiety and depression were having children and needing psychological support. Other risk factors for anxiety only were working in a quarantine hospital, being infected with COVID -19, self-isolation after return from the hospital, and hesitance about vaccine effectiveness. Treating COVID -19 patients and having a family member who had died from COVID -19 were risk factors for depression. Consulting a psychiatrist reduced this risk of depression. Conclusions. Elevated mental health disturbances triggered the alarm for urgent psychological rehabilitation to prevent the failure of health care systems in this critical period. Additionally, fighting the anti-vaccine movement should be a priority along with enhancing telerehabilitation programs in hospitals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Compassionate care is an important component of quality healthcare. Compassion fatigue (CF) is common among healthcare providers. However, there are limited studies investigating components of compassion fatigue among physical therapists and physical therapist assistants. This study investigates the prevalence of compassion satisfaction (CS), burnout (BO), and secondary traumatic stress (STS) among physical therapists and physical therapist assistants in the state of Mississippi during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods A cross-sectional descriptive survey approach was used to collect data from 187 licensed physical therapists and physical therapy assistants in Mississippi. The survey utilized the Professional Quality of Life (ProQOL) questionnaire to assess the participants' well-being and job satisfaction. Results The results showed that the mean scores of the ProQOL subscales indicated a majority of individuals experienced medium (55%) to high (44%) compassion satisfaction. Burnout scores were low (41%) to medium (59%) with no response recording a high burnout rating. A majority (99%) of participants reported medium (37%) to low (62%) secondary traumatic stress. There were some significant differences in the mean scores in relation to the participants' demographic characteristics. Age showed a significant positive association with compassion satisfaction (β=2.724, p=0.011) but not burnout (β=-1.471, p=0.149) or secondary traumatic stress (β=-0.454, p=0.633). The results of the study showed that respondents 55 years old or older reported the highest mean compassion satisfaction score, the lowest burnout score, and the lowest secondary traumatic stress score. Being a male is negatively associated with secondary traumatic stress (β=-4.063, p<0.001) but not compassion satisfaction (β=-0.779, p=0.483) or burnout (β=-1.222, p=0.252). Neither education nor care type were significant predictors for compassion satisfaction, burnout, and secondary traumatic stress. Whether respondents worked overtime appeared to be a significant predictor for secondary traumatic stress (β=3.520, p<0.001) but not for compassion satisfaction (β=1.043, p=0.321) or burnout (β=1.167, p=0.247). Conclusions The findings of this study suggest that physical therapists in Mississippi experienced both compassion satisfaction as well as burnout and secondary traumatic stress during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, the degree to which each individual experienced these were dependent on various factors and not all were statistically significant. Age, sex, and corresponding experience level of the practitioner seemed to play the biggest role. The results of this study highlight individual factors that could increase a physical therapist's or physical therapist assistant's likelihood of developing compassion fatigue. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This study aimed to examine the level of awareness of physiotherapists about artificial intelligence (AI), readiness, anxiety level related to AI and barriers to AI use. Material and Methods: 413 physiotherapists participated in an online and cross-sectional study. A custom-designed survey that focussed on the levels of knowledge, readiness, and anxiety of physiotherapists related to AI and factors limiting AI use Results: 61% of physiotherapists had knowledge of AI in physiotherapy and rehabilitation. Mobile-based applications were reported as the most preferred approach among AI-based applications, while the cost of AI-based technological therapy applications was stated as the factor most limiting use of AI-based technological therapy applications in rehabilitation. Total score of Medical Artificial Intelligence Readiness Scale was calculated as 74.19±14.25, and total score of the Artificial Intelligence Anxiety Scale was 50.72 ±22.76. The level of readiness was lower among those with a bachelor's degree level of education compared to those with postgraduate degrees (p<0.05). Conclusion: Physiotherapists have low levels of AI-related anxiety and a high degree of readiness. Physiotherapists were seen to have a positive attitude and willingness to use AI-based applications in practice. Nevertheless, the level of readiness could be increased by including AI-based applications in undergraduate curriculum. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Research has demonstrated the benefits of transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) in rehabilitation. TMS has been widely used in clinical and research settings for individuals with and without neurological dysfunctions. Therefore, understanding the knowledge and attitudes of rehabilitation specialists regarding TMS is crucial for its application. To our knowledge, no such studies have previously been conducted in the rehabilitation field. Therefore, this study is the first to assess rehabilitation specialists’ knowledge of and attitudes toward TMS. An observational cross-sectional study using a self-administered online survey was conducted among 102 rehabilitation specialists to assess their knowledge and attitudes regarding TMS application in rehabilitation sciences. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to describe the knowledge and attitudes of rehabilitation specialists toward TMS and examine the impact of different factors such as gender, education level, acceptability, and practice on these outcomes. Rehabilitation specialists who participated in this study showed a limited level of general knowledge of TMS in rehabilitation (7.81 ± 6.20, 37.19%). However, a significant association between educational levels and knowledge was found. Higher knowledge scores were observed for specialists with post-graduate degrees compared to those with only a bachelor’s degree. Moreover, knowledge level, experience, and availability of TMS equipment in the workplace led to a positive attitude toward TMS among rehabilitation specialists. A low knowledge level among rehabilitation specialists was attributed to their level of education. Nevertheless, specialists showed an overall positive attitude toward TMS. Therefore, customized medical education is necessary to incorporate TMS theory and applications into neuroscience and rehabilitation courses for rehabilitation specialists as it holds significant promise as a therapeutic tool.

Background: Stroke is the second leading cause of death and a major cause of disability worldwide. Physiotherapy, which is an important part of stroke rehabilitation, has been demonstrated to improve patient outcomes but there is no such conclusive evidence that shows any specific rehabilitation protocol being followed. Objective: To find the current practices of physical therapists for the rehabilitation of stroke patients in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Methodology: A cross study was conducted between November 2021 to April 2022 in which an online questionnaire was distributed to physiotherapists (n = 120) working in different hospitals of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The questionnaire acquired. has been adapted from previously conducted study in United states by P Natarajan et al examining stroke rehabilitation protocols. Statistical Package for the Social Sciences SPSS 22 version was used for the data analysis. Chi-square test was used to find the association of treatment protocols with experience, age, qualification and gender with P - value of 0.05 as reference. Results: The total calculated sample size was 120 but only 98 participants properly filled the questionnaire and were included in the study. The survey participants were asked about the stroke rehabilitation approaches they had used in their job and the treatment method they had learned in school. It was found that Bobath/NDT and PNF techniques were applied by majority of participants 77(78%), while MRP by N=73(74%), Brunnstorm by N= 54(54%) and Constrained Induced Therapy by N= 38%. Conclusion: Physiotherapists' approaches to treatment in stroke rehabilitation have been seen to differ. Lack of knowledge about the most recent treatment protocols and the lack of agreement on any single treatment method for stroke rehabilitation have been noticed by keeping in view the recent research evidence.

Background: The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommends that all healthcare providers be trained to screen for misuse and/or opioid use disorder. An opioid misuse training program for physical therapists was developed and implemented. The purposes of this research were to (1) understand whether the participants found the training useful, (2) understand if they instituted practice changes that resulted from the training, and (3) understand barriers to implementing the skills learned in the training., Methods: Four separate 30-minute virtual training sessions were provided (1 session every 2 weeks). The topics included an introduction to the opioid crisis, screening, assessing, and communicating with patients and with the healthcare team about opioid misuse. A final training manual was distributed after the final training session at which time participants were asked to implement what they learned in the training. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with all training program participants (n = 13) approximately 6 months after the final training session. Rapid content analysis was used to understand the perceptions of and barriers to implementing what the physical therapists learned in the training., Results: Generally, the participants found the training important and useful and strengthened their perceptions of physical therapists' role in screening for opioid misuse. Compared to the opioid misuse-related content of the training, most found it easier to implement general opioid-related content such as asking whether their patients were taking an opioid. Few participants screened any of their patients for opioid misuse. Barriers to implementation included concerns about how the patient might respond to being asked about their opioid use., Conclusion: These findings provide insight into physical therapists' perceptions of an opioid misuse training program and the challenges with implementing what they learned in the program. Future training could incorporate activities such as role-playing to improve participants' comfort with screening for opioid misuse., Competing Interests: Declaration of Conflicting InterestsThe author(s) declared the following potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article: Adam Gordon receives an honorarium for an online chapter on alcohol management in the perioperative period from the UpToDate online reference. He deems this relationship to be not related to the contents of this manuscript.

This paper is an examination of the relationship between continuity of care with home health physical therapists following hospitalization and the likelihood of readmission. We conducted a retrospective cohort study. Using rehospitalization as the dependent variable, a continuity of care indicator variable was analyzed with a multivariable logistic regression. The indicator variable was created using the Bice-Boxerman Index to measure physical therapist continuity of care. The mean of the index (0.81) was used to separate between high continuity (0.81 or greater) of care and low continuity of care (lower than 0.81). The sample included 90,220 patients, with data coming from the linking of the Outcome Assessment and Information Set (OASIS) and an administrative dataset. All subjects lived in the NYC metro area. Inclusion criteria was a patient’s admission to their first home health care site following discharge occurring between 2010 and 2015, and individuals who identified as Male or Female. In comparison to low continuity of physical therapy, high continuity of physical therapy significantly decreased hospital readmissions (OR = 0.74, 95% CI 0.71-0.76, p ≤ .001, AME = −4.28%). Interpersonal continuity of physical therapy care has been identified as a key factor in decreasing readmissions from the home care setting. The research suggests an increased emphasis in preserving physical therapist continuity following hospitalization should be explored, with the potential to reduce hospital readmissions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: The Neurophysiology of Pain Questionnaire (NPQ) is widely used to assess pain knowledge among clinicians and patients with pain, but an Italian version is not available. This study aimed to translate and cross-culturally adapt the NPQ into Italian, to test its psychometric properties, to assess the knowledge of Italian physical therapists (PTs) on pain, and to evaluate which characteristics are associated with pain knowledge., Methods: The NPQ was translated into Italian, integrated with some additional questions (IT-NPQ-New), and sent by email via the Italian Association of Physiotherapy newsletter. Rasch analysis (RA) was used to test the psychometric properties of the Italian versions. Multivariable regression analyses were used to check for associations between participants' characteristics and their NPQ scores., Results: A sample of 753 PTs completed the survey. RA of the NPQ-19 and IT-NPQ-New revealed that 10 (IT-NPQ-10) and 18 (IT-NPQ-18) items fit the model. Both questionnaires showed good psychometric properties. The overall median score among Italian PTs was 6.0 [5.0-7.0] and 11.0 [9.0-13.0] points for the IT-NPQ-10 and the IT-NPQ-18, respectively. These scores were statistically different among groups according to gender, age, years of professional activity, post-graduate specialization and days attended of targeted pain courses, with the latter being the most influential variable., Conclusions: Italian PTs now dispose of two tools to assess their basic knowledge related to pain science. Our study also showed that pain knowledge among Italian PTs needs improvement, especially considering recent biopsychosocial approaches to pain., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare no conflicts of interest., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Introduction: Health professions education is challenging in terms of developing ways to construct and assess the amalgamation of knowledge, skills and attitudes that result in novice graduates to be self-aware and confident to practice without supervision. Currently, the Physiotherapy internship program in India does not have a comprehensive competency-based framework. With the current batch of interns facing the wrath of the COVID-19 pandemic during their undergraduate training, it is a matter of concern to ensure they have developed the required competencies to handle patients independently., Methods: This is a single-group interventional study using convenience sampling. A competency framework inclusive of a comprehensive assessment and training module was developed and introduced to 27 physiotherapy interns. Every intern underwent 10 training sessions along with 8 competency assessments during 6 months of internship training. A pre-post indigenous questionnaire was used to assess their self-perceived competency along with feedback questionnaire taken at the end of the module., Results: Implementation of the competency framework revealed a statistically significant difference in the self-perceived competency (pre=84.36±10.98, post=98.55±8.74, p≤0.000). Having uniformity in assessment techniques among the faculty, being exposed to challenging cases during assessment, having training module at the beginning of the internship were some of the suggestions given by the participants., Conclusion: Competency based education offers to be an effective technique in health professional program. Incorporating a competency-based training would help the learners to understand their strengths and weaknesses that would go a long way to develop competent health-care professionals. Developing such framework in curriculum will emphasize standardization of learning outcomes, thereby resulting in quality education, further enhancing patient care, and improving the health outcomes worldwide., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflicts of interest., (Copyright: © Journal of Advances in Medical Education & Professionalism.)

Research has demonstrated the benefits of transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) in rehabilitation. TMS has been widely used in clinical and research settings for individuals with and without neurological dysfunctions. Therefore, understanding the knowledge and attitudes of rehabilitation specialists regarding TMS is crucial for its application. To our knowledge, no such studies have previously been conducted in the rehabilitation field. Therefore, this study is the first to assess rehabilitation specialists' knowledge of and attitudes toward TMS. An observational cross-sectional study using a self-administered online survey was conducted among 102 rehabilitation specialists to assess their knowledge and attitudes regarding TMS application in rehabilitation sciences. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to describe the knowledge and attitudes of rehabilitation specialists toward TMS and examine the impact of different factors such as gender, education level, acceptability, and practice on these outcomes. Rehabilitation specialists who participated in this study showed a limited level of general knowledge of TMS in rehabilitation (7.81 ± 6.20, 37.19%). However, a significant association between educational levels and knowledge was found. Higher knowledge scores were observed for specialists with post-graduate degrees compared to those with only a bachelor's degree. Moreover, knowledge level, experience, and availability of TMS equipment in the workplace led to a positive attitude toward TMS among rehabilitation specialists. A low knowledge level among rehabilitation specialists was attributed to their level of education. Nevertheless, specialists showed an overall positive attitude toward TMS. Therefore, customized medical education is necessary to incorporate TMS theory and applications into neuroscience and rehabilitation courses for rehabilitation specialists as it holds significant promise as a therapeutic tool., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2024 Albishi, Alhadlaq, Altowairqi, Alharbi, Alsubiheen, Alosaimi, Bashir and Alokaily.)

Background: Conventional physical therapy (CPT) is widely used in clinical practice and known to contribute beneficially to patient's health conditions but remains loosely defined. Research has shown inconsistency in the definition and utilization of CPT among physical therapists in clinical and research settings, limiting its generalisability and reproducibility. Therefore, this study evaluates physical therapists' knowledge, attitudes, and perceptions toward CPT., Methods: A cross-sectional study using a self-administered questionnaire containing 36 questions was distributed among 238 licensed physical therapists. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to measure the physical therapists' knowledge, attitudes, and perceptions towards CPT., Results: Physical therapists showed limited knowledge of CPT in rehabilitation (4.09±1.698, 51%). However, the knowledge scores were significantly associated with age ( P =0.002), educational levels ( P =0.006), and years of work experience ( P =0.001). Nevertheless, physical therapists showed an overall positive attitude towards CPT and perceived it as essential to rehabilitation., Conclusion: Most physical therapists have low knowledge about CPT but positive attitudes and perceptions. Therefore, customized medical education is necessary to incorporate CPT theories and applications into physical therapists' rehabilitation programs., Competing Interests: The author declares no conflict of interest.Sponsorships or competing interests that may be relevant to content are disclosed at the end of this article., (Copyright © 2024 The Author(s). Published by Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc.)

Background: Low back pain (LBP) is a costly global health condition that affects individuals of all ages and genders. Physical therapy (PT) is a commonly used and effective intervention for the management of LBP and incorporates movement assessment and therapeutic exercise. A newly developed wearable, fabric-based sensor system, Motion Tape, uses novel sensing and data modeling to measure lumbar spine movements unobtrusively and thus offers potential benefits when used in conjunction with PT. However, physical therapists' acceptance of Motion Tape remains unexplored., Objective: The primary aim of this research study was to evaluate physical therapists' acceptance of Motion Tape to be used for the management of LBP. The secondary aim was to explore physical therapists' recommendations for future device development., Methods: Licensed physical therapists from the American Physical Therapy Association Academy of Leadership Technology Special Interest Group participated in this study. Overall, 2 focus groups (FGs; N=8) were conducted, in which participants were presented with Motion Tape samples and examples of app data output on a poster. Informed by the Technology Acceptance Model, we conducted semistructured FGs and explored the wearability, usefulness, and ease of use of and suggestions for improvements in Motion Tape for PT management of LBP. FG data were transcribed and analyzed using rapid qualitative analysis., Results: Regarding wearability, participants perceived that Motion Tape would be able to adhere for several days, with some variability owing to external factors. Feedback was positive for the low-profile and universal fit, but discomfort owing to wires and potential friction with clothing was of concern. Other concerns included difficulty with self-application and potential skin sensitivity. Regarding usefulness, participants expressed that Motion Tape would enhance the efficiency and specificity of assessments and treatment. Regarding ease of use, participants stated that the app would be easy, but data management and challenges with interpretation were of concern. Physical therapists provided several recommendations for future design improvements including having a wireless system or removable wires, customizable sizes for the tape, and output including range of motion data and summary graphs and adding app features that consider patient input and context., Conclusions: Several themes related to Motion Tape's wearability, usefulness, and ease of use were identified. Overall, physical therapists expressed acceptance of Motion Tape's potential for assessing and monitoring low back posture and movement, both within and outside clinical settings. Participants expressed that Motion Tape would be a valuable tool for the personalized treatment of LBP but highlighted several future improvements needed for Motion Tape to be used in practice., (©Audrey Lee, Patricia Dionicio, Emilia Farcas, Job Godino, Kevin Patrick, Elijah Wyckoff, Kenneth J Loh, Sara Gombatto. Originally published in JMIR Human Factors (https://humanfactors.jmir.org), 29.02.2024.)