Impact of a Blood Pressure Practice Initiative on Attitude, Practice Behavior, and Knowledge among Outpatient Rehabilitation Providers: An Observational Study

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

4-2020

Publication Title

Cardiopulmonary Physical Therapy Journal

Abstract

Purpose:The purpose of this study is to describe the impact of a blood pressure (BP) educational initiative on the attitude, practice behaviors, and knowledge of outpatient (OP) physical therapists.

Methods:An observational pre-test and post-test study design was initiated using a sample of convenience at 12 OP rehabilitation clinics. A 4-phase protocol included (1) evaluation of BP equipment, (2) pre-test questionnaire, (3) attendance at a 1-hour lecture on BP practice recommendations, and (4) performing BP measures on patient evaluations for 1 week followed by the post-test questionnaire. Descriptive statistics reported demographics, whereas a paired t test compared means of the presurvey and postsurvey responses with statistical significance set at P <.05.

Results:Of the 55 therapists included, 70.9% were female and 29.1% male, whereas 41.8% and 58.2% reported having ≤15 and >15 years of experience, respectively. A significant improvement in BP attitudes (P =.02), practice behaviors (P =.001), and knowledge (P =.002) was identified.

Conclusions:An educational initiative that provided BP assessment tools, a 1-hour evidence-based BP lecture, a decision-making reference, and a directive to perform valid and reliable BP techniques and interventions resulted in positive changes to an OP therapists attitude, immediate practice behavior, and knowledge of BP.

PubMed ID

Not assigned.

Volume

31

Issue

2

First Page

472

Last Page

56

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