Physical Therapy Practitioners’ Awareness, Training, and Likelihood of Participation in Disaster Management: A Survey Study
Event Type
Presentation
Start Date
12-1-2022 9:00 AM
End Date
12-1-2022 12:00 PM
Description
A paradigm shift is needed among physical therapists to recognize the importance of involvement throughout the disaster management cycle. As a team, all allied health professionals are called to work collaboratively to support communities impacted by disasters. Previous studies explored the willingness of physical therapists to participate in disaster relief, potential barriers for participation, level of involvement, and suggestions for future improvements. Each profession must be represented in the planning stages to be effective.
Objective: The purpose of this study was to investigate the awareness, prevalence of engagement, interest level, roles, perceptions, and training of physical therapists in all stages of the disaster management cycle.
Methods: This was a quantitative survey study with convenience sampling of currently licensed physical therapy professionals (n = 233) in the state of Florida deployed via the REDCap system at Nova Southeastern University. Quantitative data was analyzed using descriptive analyses and Spearman rho correlations using IBM SPSS Statistics.
Results: Of the 233 participants, most identified as female, white, nonHispanic/Latino, and being within the 41-55 age range. Physical therapists did not know who to contact to volunteer in a disaster and many have not responded to disaster, despite believing that they have a role.
Conclusions: While respondents indicated their profession has a role in the disaster management cycle, they lack the training or experience to participate. The current study found that training increased both the familiarity and the likelihood of responding, a finding supported by literature.
Impact Statement: These findings support the calls to action, to existing and future physical therapists, by the APTA and the WCPT for training on and involvement with other healthcare professionals and organizations on disaster management. It is suggested that a twofold approach be used to increase training at the university level, as well as increase access to disaster response training for continuing education.
Recommended Citation
Estes, R. I., Dinnen, S., Francois, A., Kofsky, D., Callahan, A., Rodriguez, A., Royer, S., Zirkle, D., & Rone-Adams, S. (2022), Physical Therapy Practitioners’ Awareness, Training, and Likelihood of Participation in Disaster Management: A Survey Study, Presentation, Ninth Annual Research Colloquium, https://nsuworks.nova.edu/ot_colloquium/ninth/events/3
Physical Therapy Practitioners’ Awareness, Training, and Likelihood of Participation in Disaster Management: A Survey Study
A paradigm shift is needed among physical therapists to recognize the importance of involvement throughout the disaster management cycle. As a team, all allied health professionals are called to work collaboratively to support communities impacted by disasters. Previous studies explored the willingness of physical therapists to participate in disaster relief, potential barriers for participation, level of involvement, and suggestions for future improvements. Each profession must be represented in the planning stages to be effective.
Objective: The purpose of this study was to investigate the awareness, prevalence of engagement, interest level, roles, perceptions, and training of physical therapists in all stages of the disaster management cycle.
Methods: This was a quantitative survey study with convenience sampling of currently licensed physical therapy professionals (n = 233) in the state of Florida deployed via the REDCap system at Nova Southeastern University. Quantitative data was analyzed using descriptive analyses and Spearman rho correlations using IBM SPSS Statistics.
Results: Of the 233 participants, most identified as female, white, nonHispanic/Latino, and being within the 41-55 age range. Physical therapists did not know who to contact to volunteer in a disaster and many have not responded to disaster, despite believing that they have a role.
Conclusions: While respondents indicated their profession has a role in the disaster management cycle, they lack the training or experience to participate. The current study found that training increased both the familiarity and the likelihood of responding, a finding supported by literature.
Impact Statement: These findings support the calls to action, to existing and future physical therapists, by the APTA and the WCPT for training on and involvement with other healthcare professionals and organizations on disaster management. It is suggested that a twofold approach be used to increase training at the university level, as well as increase access to disaster response training for continuing education.