Department of Physical Therapy Student Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

Document Type

Thesis - NSU Access Only

Degree Name

Master of Physical Therapy (MPT)

Copyright Statement

All rights reserved. This publication is intended for use solely by faculty, students, and staff of Nova Southeastern University. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, now known or later developed, including but not limited to photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the author or the publisher.

Department

College of Health Care Sciences - Physical Therapy Department

Publication Date / Copyright Date

1998

Publisher

Nova Southeastern University

Abstract

Purpose: Determine how risk managers perceive the role of PTs in preventing and treating work-related musculoskeletal injuries.

Subjects: 48 FL risk managers from the Risk and Insurance Management Society, Inc.

Methodology: Self-designed survey was first used in a pilot study (10 FL risk managers & 10 FL licensed PTs). Modification of final survey included a listing of the 5 most commonly reported health care professionals: PT, Nurse, OT, DC and MD. Total of 150 surveys mailed out. Respondents asked to rank professionals on scale of 1 to 5 (1= most competent, 5=least competent) in prevention and treatment categories.

Results: 51 surveys returned, 34% response rate. Three surveys omitted (N=48). PTs ranked highest in one prevention category: body mechanics (1.69, N=41). Nurses, occupational therapists and medical doctors received highest ranking in other prevention categories. MDs ranked highest in 7/10 treatment categories. PTs ranked highest at treating muscle strains (2.23, N=30), developing work hardening programs (1.67, N=42) and prescribing strength conditioning exercises (1.71, N=41). Overall mean ranking of PTs = 2.4.

Conclusion: PTs perceived to be fairly competent as a whole for all services targeted within this study. Further education among business and industrial communities should be utilized to improve professional image in areas where PTs were not ranked as most competent.

Disciplines

Physical Therapy

To access this thesis/dissertation you must have a valid nova.edu OR mynsu.nova.edu email address and create an account for NSUWorks.

Free My Thesis

If you are the author of this work and would like to grant permission to make it openly accessible to all, please click the Free My Thesis button.

  Link to NovaCat

 
COinS