Raising the Priority of Lifestyle-Related Noncommunicable Diseases in Physical Therapy Curricula

Abstract

Given their enormous socioeconomic burdens, lifestyle-related noncommunicable diseases (heart disease, cancer, chronic lung disease, hypertension, stroke, type 2 diabetes mellitus, and obesity) have become priorities for the World Health Organization and health service delivery systems. Health care systems have been criticized for relative inattention to the gap between knowledge and practice, as it relates to preventing and managing noncommunicable diseases. Physical therapy is a profession that can contribute effectively to patients'/clients' lifestyle behavior changes at the upstream end of prevention and management. Efforts by entry-to-practice physical therapist education programs to align curricula with epidemiological trends toward best health care practices are varied. One explanation may be the lack of a frame of reference for reducing the knowledge translation gap. The purpose of this article is to provide a current perspective on epidemiological indicators and societal priorities to inform physical therapy curriculum content. Such content needs to include health examination/evaluation tools and health behavior change interventions that are consistent with contemporary values, directions, and practices of physical therapy. These considerations provide a frame of reference for curriculum change. Based on 5 years of experience and dialogue among curriculum stakeholders, an example of how epidemiologically informed and evidence-based best health care practices may be systematically integrated into physical therapy curricula to maximize patient/client health and conventional physical therapy outcomes is provided. This novel approach can serve as an example to other entry-to-practice physical therapist education programs of how to align their curricula with societal health priorities, specifically, noncommunicable diseases. The intentions are to stimulate dialogue about effectively integrating health-based competencies into entry-level education and advancing best practice, as opposed to simply evidence-based practice, across professions and health services and to establish accreditable, health promotion practice standards for physical therapy.

A qualitative study exploring the views of individuals with knee osteoarthritis on the role of physiotherapists in weight management: A complex issue requiring a sophisticated skill set

“…This research adds to a significant contemporary conversation about the role of weight management and physiotherapists (Dean, 2009;Dean et al, 2011Dean et al, , 2014Dean et al, , 2016 in knee OA, critically from the perspectives of individuals with knee OA. The complex nature of weight and the need for a healthcare practitioner to have highly developed skills and a rapport with patients, in order to provide optimal weight management support, were emphasized.…”

“…Nonetheless, the scope of healthcare has never been stagnant and evolves with society's public health needs. Over the past decade, leading physiotherapy bodies have advocated for physiotherapists to align with the World Health Organization's health priorities to address obesity (Dean, ; Dean et al, , ). The present study provides some insight into the way in which physiotherapists can be involved in weight management in an acceptable manner to patients, and highlights some of the potential barriers, including patient perceptions of the professional scope of practice and expertise.…”

“…Nonetheless, the scope of healthcare has never been stagnant and evolves with society's public health needs. Over the past decade, leading physiotherapy bodies have advocated for physiotherapists to align with the World Health Organization's health priorities to address obesity (Dean, 2009;Dean et al, 2014Dean et al, , 2016 Several methodological factors should be considered when interpreting the present study. Participants were from across Australia, with exposure to the Australian healthcare system; therefore, the findings may not be completely generalizable to other sociocultural environments.…”

Naturopathy Education, Social Cognitive Theory, PrecedeProceed Model, and Lesson Plan

“…As a result of the materials presented here, one can feel confident in his or her abilities to effectively teach others how to improve health circumstances in a professional, theory-based manner. The tools presented in this paper can help health educators, practitioners, students, researchers, and community members feel more confident in having the ability to reach individuals and groups where they are at cognitively and work toward raising those abilities to higher levels of thinking, awareness, and proactive self-care / healthcare [21][22][23]. Important goals to consider are to: (1) learn new ways of thinking, researching, and healing, (2) teach others, and (3) pass the knowledge on within spheres of influence.…”

Health benefits of tai chi: potential mechanisms of action

“…Yang, Chen, Sun, Wu or Wu-Hao) and underlying health of the participant, TC is a mild-to moderate aerobic exercise appropriate for a variety of cardiopulmonary diseases, and can likewise by used in the general community as a preventative health measure. [3][4][5][6][7][8][9] Copyright: Active Relaxation -a state of relaxed inner stillness while in motion. Long believed to be the most difficult, active relaxation is the center point of the seven guidelines for TC practice (Figure 2).…”