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2024 FEB 17 (NewsRx) -- By a News Reporter-Staff News Editor at Obesity, Fitness & Wellness Week -- Current study results on Drugs and Therapies - Adverse Drug Reactions have [...]

Neck pain is a debilitating experience for people worldwide that remains highly prevalent and costly in its treatment. (1) Reassurance, defined as the reduction of fears, concerns, and worries about [...], Objectives. The study aimed to identify and compare (1) what physical therapists perceive to be the main concerns, fears, and worries that patients with whiplash-associated disorders (WAD) and nontraumatic neck pain (NTNP) have as a result of their condition, and (2) the strategies used by physical therapists to address these fears and concerns. Methods. Using convenience sampling, 30 physical therapists completed 2 online open-ended surveys. The responses were analyzed using 2 descriptive analytic methods (thematic analysis and constant comparative analysis), and then themes were examined for areas of convergence and divergence. Results. Four similar themes for both neck pain groups were produced from our analysis of the survey responses: (1) interference with daily life, (2) concerns related to pain, (3) psychological distress, and (4) 'When I will recover?' Subthemes differed between the groups. For example, the theme 'psychological distress' had subthemes of anger and thoughts about no resolution for the WAD group, whereas for the NTNP group, subthemes were anxiety and uncertainty. The only divergent theme was (5) fear avoidance, present in the NTNP group only. Analysis of physical therapist strategies identified 3 consistent themes and 5 divergent themes across the 2 groups. Conclusions. Physical therapists described a wealth of reassurance strategies for individuals with NTNP and WAD. There were several shared themes but also some discordant ones. Reassurance is multifactorial and needs to be nuanced and not prescriptive. Impact. These qualitative findings may be key to inform the differentiated content of training programs for physical therapists delivering reassurance for these 2 populations.

As the amount of student debt in America moves well beyond 1 trillion dollars and begins to surpass automobile, mortgage, and credit card debt, the concerns around the potential effects [...], Background. The growing student debt of physical therapists entering the workforce, coupled with the growth in projected need, raises concerns about where and how entry-level physical therapists will practice and if these choices will be affected by their debt burden. Objective. The purpose of this study was to identify the debt profile of entry-level physical therapists and explore relationships between student debt and clinical practice setting choices. Methods. This study utilized a cross-sectional survey design to identify debt profiles and explore relationships between student debt and the clinical practice choices of entry-level physical therapists. Results. The mean debt-to-income ratio based on the total reported educational debt was 197% (93%). The most frequently reported debt range for doctor of physical therapy (DPT) debt and total educational debt was $100,000 to $124,999. Despite the setting itself being rated as the most important factor (83%), 28% of participants reported debt as a barrier to their desired practice setting. In addition, when considering job choice overall, 57% of the participants reported that their student debt has had an effect on their decision. Limitations. This study is limited by its small sample size, originating from 1 state, and being taken by convenience from a special interest group. Data were collected via an anonymous survey, which increases the risk of selection bias. In addition, there are further personal, family, and institutional characteristics that were not collected in this study, which may influence the interaction between student debt and clinical practice choices. Conclusion. The results of this study suggest that practice setting choice may be affected by physical therapist student debt, and student debt may be a barrier overall to practice and career choices in physical therapy.

2022 JUL 23 (NewsRx) -- By a News Reporter-Staff News Editor at Obesity, Fitness & Wellness Week -- Fresh data on intermittent claudication are presented in a new report. According [...]

The traditional biomedical view of low back pain (LBP) as a purely structural or biomechanical disorder has been greatly challenged over the past 2 decades. (1,2) There is now a [...], Background. The Pain Attitudes and Beliefs Scale (PABS) for Physical Therapists aims to measure clinicians' biomedical and biopsychosocial treatment orientations regarding nonspecific low back pain. Objective. The objective of this study was to assess whether the PABS can differentiate between subgroups of physical therapists hypothesized to differ in treatment orientations. Design. This study was a cross-sectional survey. Methods. The PABS was completed by 662 Norwegian physical therapists with a diversity of professional backgrounds. Twenty-four a priori hypotheses on expected differences in PABS scores were formulated. Sufficient discriminative ability was defined as a minimum of 75% confirmed hypotheses. Hypotheses on differences in scores were tested for the biomedical and biopsychosocial subscales separately as well as for combinations of the 2 subscales, representing responders with high biomedical and low biopsychosocial PABS scores and vice versa. Results. Of the 24 hypotheses, only 15 (62.5%) were confirmed. Between-group differences concerning the separate subscales were small, varying from -0.63 to 1.70 scale points, representing values up to 6.0% of the total subscale ranges. Between-group differences were larger when combined subscales were used, varying from 1.80 to 6.70 points, representing values up to 25.1% of the total subscale ranges. Despite little spread in scores, 24% of respondents demonstrated extreme attitudes. Limitations. The lack of convincing scientific evidence from previous research on differences in attitudes and beliefs between physical therapists was a limitation for the formulation of hypotheses. Conclusions. Discriminative validity of separate subscales of the PABS was not supported. Combining the 2 subscales into global treatment attitudes enabled better discrimination. Little spread in biomedical and biopsychosocial orientations explains why more than one-third of the hypotheses were not confirmed. Either Norwegian physical therapists are basically similar in their treatment orientation or the PABS is not able to detect any differences between them.

Complications of critical illness include intensive care unit (ICU)-acquired weakness, neuropsychiatric abnormalities, impaired functional mobility, decreased quality of life, and high costs of health care use. (1-5) Physical therapist services [...], Background. Early rehabilitation improves outcomes, and increased use of physical therapist services in the intensive care unit (ICU) has been recommended. Little is known about the implementation of early rehabilitation programs or physical therapists' preparation and perceptions of care in the United States. Objective. A national survey was conducted to determine the current status of physical therapist practice in the ICU. Design. This study used a cross-sectional, observational design. Methods. Self-report surveys were mailed to members of the Acute Care Section of the American Physical Therapy Association. Questions addressed staffing, training, barriers, and protocols, and case scenarios were used to determine perceptions about providing rehabilitation. Results. The response rate was 29% (667/2,320). Staffing, defined as the number of physical therapists per 100 ICU beds, was highest in community hospitals (academic: median = 5.4 [range = 3-6-9.2]; community: median = 6.7 [range = 4.4-10.0]) and in the western United States (median = 7.5 [range = 4.2-12.9]). Twelve percent of physical therapists reported no training. Barriers to providing ICU rehabilitation included insufficient staffing and training, departmental prioritization policies, and inadequate consultation criteria. Responses to case scenarios demonstrated differences in the likelihood of consultation and physical therapists' prescribed frequency and intensity of care based on medical interventions rather than characteristics of patients. Physical therapists in academic hospitals were more likely to be involved in the care of patients in each scenario and were more likely to perform higher-intensity mobilization. Limitations. Members of the Acute Care Section of the American Physical Therapy Association may not represent most practicing physical therapists, and the 29% return rate may have contributed to response bias. Conclusions. Although staffing was higher in community hospitals, therapists in academic and community hospitals cited insufficient staffing as the most common barrier to providing rehabilitation in the ICU. Implementing strategies to overcome barriers identified in this study may improve the delivery of ICU rehabilitation services.