, et al. Assessment and management of risk factors for the prevention of lifestyle-related
disease: a cross-sectional survey of current activities, barriers and perceived training needs of primary care physiotherapists in the Republic
of Ireland. Physiotherapy (2014), http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.physio.2013.10.004
ARTICLE IN PRESS
PHYST-739; No. of Pages 7
Physiotherapy xxx (2014) xxxxxx
Assessment and management of risk factors for the prevention of
lifestyle-related disease: a cross-sectional survey of current activities,
barriers and perceived training needs of primary care physiotherapists in
the Republic of Ireland
G. ODonoghue
a,b,
, C. Cunningham
c
, F. Murphy
c
, C. Woods
b
, J. Aagaard-Hansen
a
a
Health Promotion Centre, Steno Diabetes Centre, Gentofte, Denmark
b
Centre for Preventive Medicine, School of Health and Human Performance, Dublin City University, Ireland
c
School of Public Health, Physiotherapy and Population Science, University College Dublin, Ireland
Abstract
Objective To provide a snapshot of current activities, barriers and perceived training needs for the assessment and management of behavioural
risk factors in physiotherapy practice in primary care settings in the Republic of Ireland.
Design Cross-sectional survey of primary care physiotherapists.
Method Two hundred and twenty primary care physiotherapists were invited to participate. Each received a questionnaire, consisting of 23
questions, within ve key sections. Its main focus was the risk factor management practices of physiotherapists. Descriptive statistics and
frequencies were used to analyse the data.
Results A response rate of 74% (163/220) was achieved. Level of physical activity was the most common risk factor assessed at initial and
follow-up visits (78%, 127/163), followed by dietary status (55%, 90/163). Few respondents included smoking status and alcohol consumption
in their assessment; however, the majority considered them as risk factors that should be addressed. The main reasons why smoking status and
alcohol consumption were not assessed were lack of time, limited knowledge and expertise, not traditionally viewed as the physiotherapists
role, and patients lack of interest in changing their unhealthy behaviour.
Conclusion The ndings highlight an untapped potential in relation to physiotherapists addressing lifestyle-related risk factors. A number
of strategies are required to improve the systematic assessment and management of these risk factors.
2014 Chartered Society of Physiotherapy. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Keywords: Primary care physiotherapy; Assessment and management of lifestyle risk factors; Smoking; Nutrition; Alcohol consumption; Physical activity;
Prevention of type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease
Introduction
Chronic lifestyle-related diseases are a major public health
problem worldwide. In 2008, the World Health Organiza-
tion estimated that 61% of all deaths (35 million) and 49%
of the global burden of disease were attributed to chronic
diseases. By 2030, the proportion of total global deaths
due to chronic diseases is expected to increase to 70% and
the global burden of disease to 56% [1]. Lifestyle-related