Measuring Physiotherapists Physical Behaviour (Version 1)
Research type
Research Study
Full title
An investigation of physiotherapists physical activity level and their knowledge and promotion of physical activity as part of their professional role.
IRAS ID
189994
Contact name
Daniel Kerr
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Ulster University
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 5 months, 31 days
Research summary
The National Health Service (NHS) has developed to become the world’s largest publicly funded health service. However it is currently facing the biggest challenge in its existence. Both funding shortages and an increase in demand threaten the future sustainability of the service. Preserving the NHS will require fundamental changes to how health care is delivered.
This change will require a cultural change away from the current focus on treatment of illness towards the promotion of wellness. The NHS has established the campaign named ‘Make Every Contact Count.’ This highlights four lifestyle factors (diet, physical activity, alcohol and tobacco) as priorities for health professionals to target during consultations. Physiotherapists are often seen in experts in physical activity, ideally placing them to promote physical activity to patients.
There is evidence to suggest that health professionals own health has a direct impact on patient care as GPs who regularly engage in physical activity are more likely to promote physical activity to their patients. However this association has not been investigated among UK physiotherapists.
Aim
The aim is to assess UK physiotherapist’s current physical activity promotion practices, personal physical behaviour and their knowledge of current guidelines.Methods
This study will consist of two phases. Phase one will investigate physiotherapists personal physical activity levels, their current physical activity promotional practice and knowledge of guidelines. This data will be collected through use of a postal questionnaire which will be sent to all physiotherapists (n=400) in the Belfast Health and Social Care Trust (BHSCT). Phase two will objectively measure physiotherapist’s physical activity and will require physiotherapists to wear a small device on their thigh for one week. A subgroup (n=40) of physiotherapists working in the BHSCT will be asked to volunteer for phase two. The will help increase knowledge in this area and identify potential training needs.REC name
East Midlands - Leicester Central Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
15/EM/0506
Date of REC Opinion
9 Nov 2015
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion