Physiotherapy assessment of people with neurological conditions in Australia: A national survey.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Currently there are approximately one billion people worldwide affected by a neurological condition. These conditions may result in a variety of impairments that require assessment and management from a physiotherapist. However, there is a lack of consensus in the literature as to what domains physiotherapists working in clinical settings include in their assessment of this population, with only five domains identified in a recent systematic review. This study aimed to explore current physiotherapy assessments in people with neurological conditions, including barriers, enablers, and influencing factors.

METHODS

A National online survey of Australian physiotherapists who assessed adults with neurological conditions in their clinical practice.

RESULTS

A total of 212 respondents from all states in Australia completed the survey. The mean (SD) age was 35.7 (9.6) years, and the majority were female (85.4%). Respondents worked across various settings assessing stroke most frequently (58.0%). Study results demonstrated variability in assessment practice, with a number of assessment domains being assessed more commonly including balance, muscle strength, gait, falls and safety, function, goal setting, range of movement, pain, co-ordination, activity tolerance, postural alignment and symmetry, and the upper limb. Experienced physiotherapists and those in rural and remote settings included fewer domains in their assessments. On the other hand, physiotherapists in the community setting included certain domains more frequently than those in other settings. Barriers and enablers were related to therapist caseload, knowledge, and intrinsic patient factors.

DISCUSSION

There is variability in domains assessed by Australian physiotherapists, with an emerging consensus for a number of assessment domains. Study results suggest that clinical experience, geographical location, and clinical setting may play a role in the assessment patterns observed.

IMPLICATIONS ON PHYSIOTHERAPY PRACTICE

There is little evidence to support what physiotherapists assess in practice, in different settings, in different states within Australia. This study indicates that experience, geographical location, and clinical setting affect the number and types of domains included in the assessment. Further research is needed to develop a consensus on best practices.