The Role of the Physical Therapist in the Recognition, Assessment, and Exercise Intervention in Persons With, or at Risk for, Osteoporosis:

Knowledge and Awareness of Osteoporosis: A Survey of Physical Therapy Providers in Saudi Arabia

Background

Osteoporosis "OP" is classified as one of the most serious health conditions worldwide. OP increases the skeletal fracture risk by 35%, particularly at hip, spine, and wrist joints. Healthcare professionals should be aware of OP clinical signs and have good knowledge while managing all patients.

Objectives

This study aims to investigate the current level of osteoporosis knowledge and awareness among physical therapy providers in Saudi Arabia.

Methods

One hundred and sixty-eight physical therapy providers participated in this cross-sectional electronic survey from February to July of 2021. The participants completed the Osteoporosis Knowledge Assessment Tool questionnaire (OKAT). Descriptive analysis was utilized to assess the current level of osteoporosis knowledge among physical therapy providers.

Results

Among the 168 participants, 55% (n = 92) were over 31 years old and 45% (n = 76) were 30 years old or under. The majority of participants 37% (n = 62) had more than 10 years of experience, 45% (n = 76) mainly treat orthopedic conditions, and 70% (n = 117) live in the western region. The results showed that 67.9% (n = 114) of participants had good knowledge about osteoporosis, while 19.6% (n = 33) had poor knowledge, and only 12.5% (n = 21) had excellent knowledge.

Conclusion

Physical therapy providers in Saudi Arabia have a good knowledge of osteoporosis. The overall OP preventive measure knowledge questions were poor. It is crucial for physical therapy providers to act appropriately to prevent falls and mitigate any potential risks.

Essential Components of Physical Therapist Management of Patients With Osteoporosis: A Delphi Study

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Osteoporosis is a systemic, metabolic bone disease that affects bone quality, increases susceptibility to low-trauma bone fracture, and has downstream effects on falls and fragility fractures. Osteoporosis is a multifactorial disease process that requires management from multiple health care providers including physicians, nurses, and physical therapists. However, the paucity of information regarding comprehensive physical therapist management for patients with osteoporosis indicated the need for an evidence-based document. The purpose of this document was to provide the best available expert guidance for clinicians in the selection of screening tools, essential tests and measures, treatment goals, and interventions for patients with osteoporosis.

METHODS

A Delphi process was used. Thirty-one physical therapists with expertise in the care of patients with osteoporosis participated in a series of 3 sequential surveys designed to build and reach agreement on the management of patients with osteoporosis. The desired survey outcomes were to: (1) identify the range of examination and plan of care components considered important to physical therapists' care for patients with osteoporosis, (2) determine which components should be considered essential, and (3) achieve consensus on the final list of essential components and related operational definitions.

RESULTS

A clear consensus on the essential components of examination and interventions was achieved. In general, there were 4 to 6 items across each category of history, tests and measures, education/goals, and treatment.

CONCLUSIONS

The prioritization of these management items will better support clinicians working with adults who have osteoporosis.

An evaluation of the nature and level of musculoskeletal imaging training in physiotherapy educational programmes in Nigeria

BACKGROUND

Deficiency in musculoskeletal imaging (MI) education will pose a great challenge to physiotherapists in clinical decision making in this era of first-contact physiotherapy practices in many developed and developing countries. This study evaluated the nature and the level of MI training received by physiotherapists who graduate from Nigerian universities.

METHODS

An online version of the previously validated Physiotherapist Musculoskeletal Imaging Profiling Questionnaire (PMIPQ) was administered to all eligible physiotherapists identified through the database of the Medical Rehabilitation Therapist Board of Nigeria. Data were obtained on demographics, nature, and level of training on MI procedures using the PMIPQ. Logistic regression, Friedman's analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Kruskal-Wallis tests were used for the statistical analysis of collected data.

RESULTS

The results (n = 400) showed that only 10.0% of the respondents had a stand-alone entry-level course in MI, 92.8% did not have any MI placement during their clinical internship, and 67.3% had never attended a MI workshop. There was a significant difference in the level of training received across MI procedures [χ² (15) = 1285.899; p = 0.001]. However, there was no significant difference in the level of MI training across institutions of entry-level programme (p = 0.36). The study participants with transitional Doctor of Physiotherapy education were better trained in MI than their counterparts with a bachelor's degree only (p = 0.047).

CONCLUSIONS

Most physiotherapy programmes in Nigeria did not include a specific MI module; imaging instructions were mainly provided through clinical science courses. The overall self-reported level of MI training among the respondents was deficient. It is recommended that stand-alone MI education should be introduced in the early part of the entry-level physiotherapy curriculum.

A survey of screening and practice patterns used for patients with osteoporosis in a sample of physical therapists from Illinois

BACKGROUND

Physical therapists provide care for many patients who are at risk or have been diagnosed with osteoporosis. Currently, little information exists about what physical therapists know about osteoporosis, how they screen for the condition, and how they manage patients with osteoporosis.

PURPOSE

This study assessed knowledge and confidence of physical therapists in screening, examining, and planning interventions for persons diagnosed or at risk for osteoporosis.

METHODS

A survey was mailed to 250 randomly selected members of the Illinois Physical Therapy Association. A follow-up mailing was sent to those who had not replied within 3 months. Survey items focused knowledge and confidence with screening and developing interventions for persons with osteoporosis. Response rate was 41% with a final sample of 83, 3 respondents meeting the inclusion criterion (working with women age 40-90).

RESULTS

The majority of respondents were confident (35%) or somewhat confident (47%) in their ability to recognize risk factors for osteoporosis. The majority correctly identified female gender (68%), history of fracture (88%), and family history of osteoporosis (80%) as risk factors for osteoporosis, and identified changes in height (86%), and changes in posture (90%) as indicators for screening. Only 35% would often or always identify Asian American individuals as appropriate for screening for osteoporosis. Respondents appropriately prescribed log rolling for bed mobility (82%), rest in a supine position (45%), "hip hinge" as a method for sit to stand (48%), and wall slides (52%). Although more than 55% reported never prescribing high-risk exercises such as toe touches, abdominal machines, or abdominal crunches, 33% would prescribe high-risk exercises such as rest in a sitting position (37%) and a "nose over toes" method of sit-stand (36%).

CONCLUSION

It appears physical therapists correctly screen and identify some risk factors for osteoporosis; more education is needed in certain areas of screening and interventions for those with osteoporosis.

Association between generic and disease-specific quality of life questionnaires and mobility and balance among women with osteoporosis and vertebral fractures

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

The aims of this study were to assess correlations between two health-related quality of life (HRQOL) measurements, the Quality of Life Questionnaire issued by the European Foundation for Osteoporosis (QUALEFFO- 41) and the total score of The General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-20) in a population of women living at home with well-established osteoporosis and at least one vertebral fracture, as well as the internal consistency and floor and ceiling effects of these measurements. Also examined were the mean values of these measurements, to ascertain whether they were significantly different for the group consisting of 75% of the women with the best performance on mobility and balance, compared with the other participants.

METHODS

Across-sectional study of 89 women aged 60 years or more, evaluated by QUALEFFO-41 (consisting of one total score and five section scores), GHQ-20 (one total score), maximum speed and Functional Reach (FR).

RESULTS

Cronbach's alpha coefficient for measurements of HRQOL ranged from 0.61 to 0.92. Significant correlations between 'QUALEFFO- 41: total score' and 'GHQ-20: total score' were 0.49, and between 'GHQ-20: total score' and section scores of 'QUALEFFO-41' 0.28-0.63. Those in the 75% group with the highest maximum walking speed or longest distance on FR reported significantly better disease-specific HRQOL than the others, with poorer results on these tests.

CONCLUSIONS

Disease-specific and generic HRQOL instruments are not redundant when applied together, and the disease-specific 'QUALEFFO-41' and generic GHQ-20 measure different aspects of HRQOL.