Abstract
Background The importance of health professionals discussing health behaviors with patients is emphasized in Healthy People 2020, the national health objectives established by the US Department of Health and Human Services. Many physical therapists do not routinely discuss health behaviors with their patients. One reason may be uncertainty about how these discussions might be perceived by patients.
Objective The primary purpose of this study was to determine patients' opinions regarding physical therapists discussing the topics of physical activity, smoking, fruit and vegetable consumption, and maintaining a healthy weight during clinical visits. A secondary purpose was to determine whether patients believe that physical therapists should be role models for these behaviors.
Design This was a descriptive cross-sectional survey.
Methods Patients were surveyed at 8 outpatient clinics in Michigan and Minnesota. A written questionnaire collected information about the participants' health behaviors, their opinions about physical therapists discussing their health behaviors during clinical visits, and their opinions about physical therapists role-modeling healthy behaviors.
Results The survey response rate was 45.6%. A total of 230 patients participated. Most participants agreed that physical therapists should speak to them about physical activity (91.3%), maintaining a healthy weight (73%), and abstaining from smoking (51.3%). Fewer participants agreed that physical therapists should advise them about fruit and vegetable consumption (32.1%). The majority of participants agreed that physical therapists should be role models for engaging in regular physical activity (83.4%), maintaining a healthy weight (71.7%), and abstaining from smoking (63.9%).
Limitations Limitations of this study include the potential for response bias and limited generalizability.
Conclusions Most participants believed it is appropriate for physical therapists to speak with them about and be role models for the behaviors of physical activity, maintaining a healthy weight, and abstaining from smoking. Physical therapists have the opportunity to support the goals of Healthy People 2020 by discussing health behaviors with their patients.
Footnotes
Dr Black and Dr Ingman provided concept/idea/research design, writing, data analysis, project management, and fund procurement. All authors provided data collection. Dr Ingman and Dr Janes provided participants and institutional liaisons. Dr Janes provided facilities/equipment.
The authors thank the physical therapists at Beaumont Health System, Michigan, and Fairview Institute for Athletic Medicine, Minnesota, for their assistance with patient recruitment for this project, as well as Melissa Shirriff, PT, for her assistance in project management. The contributions of Allegra Adams, PT, Jessica Berglund, PT, Heidi Clark, PT, Matt LaDue, PT, Amy Majchrzak, PT, and Erin Poepping Engel, PT, in design and data entry are gratefully acknowledged. The authors also thank David Chapman, PT, for providing statistical consultation.
The study was approved by the Human Investigation Committee at Beaumont Health System, Michigan, and the institutional review boards at Oakland University, St. Catherine University, and the University of Minnesota.
This study was supported by a grant from the Michigan Physical Therapy Association, an Oakland University Provost Graduate Student Award, and a St. Catherine University Academic Community Development Committee Faculty Scholarship Grant.
- Received August 29, 2014.
- Accepted April 3, 2016.
- © 2016 American Physical Therapy Association
Issue highlights
