School of Allied Health (Exercise Science), Murdoch University, Murdoch, WA, 6150, Australia; Centre for Molecular Medicine and Innovative Therapeutics, Murdoch University, Murdoch, WA, 6150, Australia; Centre for Healthy Ageing, Murdoch University, Murdoch, WA, 6150, Australia; School of Medical and Health Sciences, Edith Cowan University, 270 Joondalup Drive, Joondalup, WA, 6027, Australia.
School of Allied Health (Exercise Science), Murdoch University, Murdoch, WA, 6150, Australia.
Mult Scler Relat Disord. 2024 Jul;87:105689. doi: 10.1016/j.msard.2024.105689. Epub 2024 May 19.
The growing importance of telehealth in multiple sclerosis (MS) necessitates an understanding of current practices and training needs of health professionals. We aimed to evaluate the knowledge, preparedness, and training preferences of Australian allied health professionals (AHPs) in telehealth exercise therapy and exercise behavioural change for MS patients to inform the development of educational training.
An online survey was completed by 58 Australian AHPs, including 34 physiotherapists, 14 exercise physiologists, and 10 occupational therapists, focusing on their current practices, preparedness, and training preferences in telehealth exercise and behavioural change for MS. The survey included multiple-choice, Likert scale, and free-text response questions. Data were analysed using binary and multinomial logistic regressions.
Not all AHPs were aware of MS exercise guidelines (67% awareness), with exercise physiologists showing the highest familiarity. There was a significant understanding of the difference between physical activity and exercise, though definitions often lacked clarity. Most AHPs (91%) employed behavioural change strategies in their practice, especially goal-setting (95%), identifying facilitators (67%), and reinforcing progress (66%). While most (72%) felt prepared in promoting exercise to MS clients, there were differences in confidence levels concerning the prescription, modification, and teaching of telehealth exercise programs, with occupational therapists have significant less confidence in those domains compared to other AHPs. Most AHPs expressed interest in additional training, with a preference for online workshops focusing on exercise prescription for MS, behaviour change, and telehealth delivery methods.
In our Australian AHP sample we identified that a quarter to a third of AHPs in MS care may not be confident or prepared to promote telehealth exercise and behavioural change to people with MS. Moreover, the findings highlight some disparity in knowledge and confidence levels amongst different AHPs concerning exercise therapy for MS, indicating the need for tailored multidisciplinary training programs. Such programs should address profession-specific educational gaps and training preferences, ensuring effective and safe telehealth exercise prescription in MS care.
远程医疗在多发性硬化症（MS）中的重要性日益增加，这就需要了解卫生专业人员的当前实践和培训需求。我们旨在评估澳大利亚辅助医疗专业人员（AHPs）在远程医疗运动疗法和 MS 患者运动行为改变方面的知识、准备情况和培训偏好，以为教育培训提供信息。
通过在线调查评估了 58 名澳大利亚 AHPs 的知识、准备情况和培训偏好，其中包括 34 名物理治疗师、14 名运动生理学家和 10 名职业治疗师，重点关注他们在远程医疗运动和 MS 患者行为改变方面的当前实践、准备情况和培训偏好。该调查包括多项选择题、李克特量表和自由文本回答问题。使用二项和多项逻辑回归分析数据。
并非所有 AHP 都了解 MS 运动指南（67%的知晓率），运动生理学家的熟悉程度最高。尽管定义往往不明确，但大多数 AHP 对身体活动和运动之间的区别有很好的理解。大多数 AHP（91%）在实践中采用行为改变策略，尤其是设定目标（95%）、确定促进因素（67%）和强化进展（66%）。尽管大多数 AHP（72%）认为自己有能力向 MS 客户宣传运动，但在制定、修改和教授远程医疗运动计划方面的信心水平存在差异，与其他 AHP 相比，职业治疗师在这些领域的信心水平显著较低。大多数 AHP 表示有兴趣接受额外的培训，他们更喜欢专注于 MS 运动处方、行为改变和远程医疗交付方法的在线研讨会。
在我们的澳大利亚 AHP 样本中，我们发现，在 MS 护理中，四分之一到三分之一的 AHP 可能对向 MS 患者宣传远程医疗运动和行为改变没有信心或准备。此外，研究结果突出了不同 AHP 之间在 MS 运动疗法方面的知识和信心水平存在一些差异，表明需要制定有针对性的多学科培训计划。这些计划应解决特定专业的教育差距和培训偏好，确保在 MS 护理中有效和安全地进行远程医疗运动处方。
