Knowledge, attitude and practice of physiotherapists towards health promotion in Ghana.

BACKGROUND

Physiotherapists are well equipped to address health promotion issues with their patients and the public. However, no studies have been conducted in Ghana to assess the knowledge, attitude and practice of physiotherapists towards health promotion.

OBJECTIVES

This study therefore seeks to determine the knowledge, attitude and practice of physiotherapists towards health promotion in Ghana.

METHODS

This cross-sectional study was conducted at some selected physiotherapy departments in health facilities across Ghana. Ninety-one registered physiotherapists living and working in Ghana were recruited for this study. A closed-ended self-administered questionnaire was used to collect data on the demographics, knowledge, attitude and practice of physiotherapists towards health promotion. The scores for each section were calculated individually, and the final knowledge, attitude and practices score was obtained by calculating the total of the three sections. Statistical Package for Social Sciences version 22.0 was employed to analyse all the study variables.

RESULTS

Physiotherapists' knowledge was 72%, attitude 84% and practice 87% towards health promotion. The association between the physiotherapists' knowledge of health promotion and practice was significant with Pearson's chi-square test ( = 0.013). But there was no significant association between knowledge and attitude of physiotherapists towards health promotion ( = 0.097).

CONCLUSION

Physiotherapists have very good knowledge, attitude and practice towards health promotion in Ghana. This is essential for better integration into the scope of physiotherapy practice, and therefore, the health promotion policy in Ghana should be revised to include physiotherapists, because they are experts in exercise prescription and physical activity.

CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS

The outcomes of this study could provide the impetus for physiotherapists to include health promotion in clinical and community services for primary prevention of non-communicable diseases as well as secondary and tertiary prevention of disability to promote functional independence.