Active Living and Rehabilitation: Aotearoa New Zealand, Health and Rehabilitation Research Institute, School of Clinical Sciences, Auckland University of Technology, Auckland, New Zealand.
Department of Physiotherapy, School of Clinical Sciences, Auckland University of Technology, Auckland, New Zealand.
Musculoskelet Sci Pract. 2020 Oct;49:102213. doi: 10.1016/j.msksp.2020.102213. Epub 2020 Jun 27.
National surveys in New Zealand, Australia and the United Kingdom suggest ultrasound imaging (USI) use by physiotherapists is increasing. However, concerns exist regarding clarity for scopes of practice, and availability and standardisation of training.
To investigate physiotherapists' understanding of scopes of practice for the use of USI; clarify the professional contexts, clinical uses and levels of training; and identify barriers preventing physiotherapists' USI use.
A cross-sectional, observational survey.
An Internet-based survey, offered in 20 different languages, was used including items covering five domains: (1) demographic and professional characteristics; (2) knowledge of scope of practice; (3) USI use; (4) USI training content and duration; and (5) perceived barriers to physiotherapists' use of USI.
1307 registered physiotherapists from 49 countries responded; 30% were unsure of the scope of practice for physiotherapists' USI use. 38% of participants were users of USI, reporting varied contexts and clinical uses, reflected in the broader categories of: (i) biofeedback; (ii) diagnosis; (iii) assessment; (iv) injection guidance; (v) research; (vi) and teaching. The training users received varied, with formal training more comprehensive. 62% were non-users, the most common barrier was lack of training (76%).
These findings suggest physiotherapists' USI use is increasing in various contexts; however, there is uncertainty regarding scopes of practice. There are discrepancies in training offered, with a lack of training the most common barrier to physiotherapists' use of USI. International guidelines, including a USI training framework, are needed to support the consistent and sustainable use of USI in physiotherapy.
新西兰、澳大利亚和英国的全国性调查表明，物理治疗师对超声成像（USI）的使用正在增加。然而，人们对实践范围的清晰度、培训的可用性和标准化存在担忧。
调查物理治疗师对 USI 使用范围的理解；阐明专业背景、临床用途和培训水平；并确定阻碍物理治疗师使用 USI 的因素。
横断面观察性调查。
采用基于互联网的调查，提供 20 种不同语言，包括五个领域的项目：（1）人口统计学和专业特征；（2）实践范围的知识；（3）USI 使用；（4）USI 培训内容和持续时间；（5）物理治疗师使用 USI 的感知障碍。
来自 49 个国家的 1307 名注册物理治疗师做出了回应；30%的人对物理治疗师 USI 使用的实践范围不确定。38%的参与者是 USI 的使用者，报告了不同的背景和临床用途，反映在更广泛的类别中：（i）生物反馈；（ii）诊断；（iii）评估；（iv）注射指导；（v）研究；（vi）和教学。接受培训的人员各不相同，正规培训更全面。62%的人是非使用者，最常见的障碍是缺乏培训（76%）。
这些发现表明，物理治疗师在各种背景下越来越多地使用 USI；然而，实践范围仍存在不确定性。提供的培训存在差异，缺乏培训是物理治疗师使用 USI 的最常见障碍。需要国际指南，包括 USI 培训框架，以支持 USI 在物理治疗中的一致和可持续使用。
