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. 2016;68(3):298-306.
doi: 10.3138/ptc.2015-63.

Knowledge, Attitudes, and Current Practices of Canadian Physiotherapists in Preventing and Managing Diabetes

Karly Doehring  1 , Scott Durno  2 , Catherine Pakenham  3 , Bashir Versi  4 , Vincent G DePaul  5
Affiliations

Knowledge, Attitudes, and Current Practices of Canadian Physiotherapists in Preventing and Managing Diabetes

Karly Doehring et al. Physiother Can. 2016.

Abstract
in English, French

Purpose: To describe the knowledge, attitudes, and current practices of Canadian physiotherapists in preventing and managing diabetes. Methods: Members of the Canadian Physiotherapy Association were recruited by email to participate in a Web-based survey. The survey contained 40 items in four domains: demographics and education, attitudes and beliefs, current practices, and knowledge of diabetes. A descriptive analysis was completed for all the response variables from the survey. Results: A total of 401 physiotherapists from 10 provinces and 2 territories participated. Respondents were most confident in providing education about exercise and had decreasing confidence in providing education about managing secondary complications, weight management, blood sugar control, and nutrition, respectively. Only 32.4% of participants offered diabetes management counselling, citing lack of training. Knowledge was generally good, except for activity guidelines. Conclusions: A significant proportion of physiotherapists lack confidence in providing key aspects of care to patients with diabetes. Gaps in clinical practice and knowledge of activity guidelines were also observed. This study highlights the need to review entry-level physiotherapy training and to develop continuing educational opportunities in this area.

Objectif : décrire les connaissances, attitudes et pratiques actuelles des physiothérapeutes canadiens relativement à la prévention et à la gestion du diabète. Méthodes : un sondage a été mené sur le Web auprès de participants recrutés par courrier électronique parmi les membres de l'Association canadienne de physiothérapie. Le sondage comprenait 40 questions appartenant à quatre domaines différents : démographie et formation, attitudes et croyances, pratiques actuelles et connaissances sur le diabète. Une analyse descriptive a été effectuée pour toutes les variables-réponses du sondage. Résultats : au total, 401 physiothérapeutes provenant des 10 provinces et des 2 territoires ont participé. Le niveau de confiance des répondants était à son plus haut quand il s'agissait de fournir à leurs patients de l'information sur l'exercice, mais il diminuait progressivement quand il s'agissait de les guider dans la gestion des complications secondaires, du poids, de la glycémie ou encore de la nutrition. Seulement 32,4% des participants offraient des conseils sur la gestion du diabète, les autres invoquant leur manque de formation. De façon générale, le niveau de connaissances était bon, sauf à l'égard des lignes directrices en matière d'activité physique pour les diabétiques. Conclusion : une proportion significative de physiothérapeutes n'a pas la confiance nécessaire pour offrir certains aspects essentiels de la prise en charge des patients diabétiques. Des lacunes ont aussi été observées dans la pratique clinique auprès de ces patients et dans la connaissance des lignes directrices en matière d'activité physique. L'étude met en évidence la nécessité de revoir la formation de base des physiothérapeutes et de développer la formation continue dans ce domaine.

Keywords: attitudes; diabetes mellitus; health knowledge; survey.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Self-efficacy of diabetes care provision in relation to knowledge testing.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

Comment in

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