The drift of this study was to det...

The drift of this study was to determine if form relative to sex length of work experience, and format of cardiopulmonary classroom education were related to perceived barriers to participation in phase I cardiac rehabilitation. exposes were acute care physical therapists in Arkansas and its 6 contiguous states. brace copies of questionnaires were sent to 25 randomly prefered acute care hospital physical therapy departments in Arkansas and the 6 contiguous states with the prayer that 1 copy be given to a male and 1 transcript to a female physical therapist. Questions were related to form relative to sex length of acute care experience, format of cardiopulmonary education, quality of learner clinical experience in cardiac rehabilitation, and Likert scales related to potential deterrent to participating in phase I cardiac rehabilitation. Chi-square analysis was used to determine if distribution of 1 reply varied with responses to culled items. Significant differences were set up in the distribution of answers in 8 areas: 1 ) males and females had different predilections of patient population, 2) experience v priority of patient population, 3) experience and lack of education/training as a deterrent 4) experience and perception of adequacy of education, 5) adequate education v willingness to participate in cardiac rehabilitation, 6) adequate education v lack of education/training as a deterrent 7) adequate education v format of education, and 8) format of education v lack of education/training as a deterrent With more experience, acute care therapists evolve a preference for either cardiac rehabilitation or other patients, whereas a greater number of les experienced therapists expres no choice Those who received a glutted class of cardiopulmonary physical therapy and les experienced therapists the pair perceived a greater sense of adequacy of academic preparation for cardiac rehabilitation. Acute care physical therapists who perceived having an adequate education were more willing to participate in cardiac rehabilitation and perceived lack of education/training as les of a deterrent to participation. Those who received a well stocked [i]or[/i] provided class of cardiopulmonary physical therapy also perceived lack of education/training as les of a deterrent Academic preparation of physical therapy pupils can impact the willingness of acute care therapists to participate in phase I cardiac rehabilitation by dint of decreasing the deterrent of a feeling of inadequate training.

Key words: cardiac rehabilitation, questionnaire, examine acute care physical therapy

INTRODUCTION

Recently the Agency for Health Care Policy and Research (AHCPR) released proceeds of its study on the effectiveness of cardiac rehabilitation.' The findings were exceedingly supportive of phase I cardiac rehabilitation programs and have been widely distributed from one side the lay news media. This publicity may increase the demand for phase I cardiac rehabilitation. Phase I cardiac rehabilitation is a program in acute care hospitals involving primarily individuals following coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery and uncomplicated myocardial infarctions. This program may be supervised by way of physical therapists or other health care providers of the like kind as nurses and exercise physiologists. Others referr for phase I cardiac rehabilitation may include inpatients being treated medically for unstable angina or uncompensated congestive heart failure, and those who have undergone percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) or valve repair/ replacement and cardiac transplant.

The phase I program consists of careful monitoring of inpatients during progressive activity with increases in the one and the other exercise and gravitational stresses and teaching self-monitoring of the patient's reply to exercise. Physical therapists, in addition to other health care providers, may be trained to provide interventions for inpatients with primary cardiac diagnoses; however, the physical therapist also understands pulmonary complications of surgery to what extent balance and gait problems may affect the metabolic preciousness of activities and how to work with and around patient lines, monitoring equipment and other intensive care equipment.

Because of this training, phase I cardiac rehabilitation and intensive care in general, are areas that may provide an opportunity for increasing demand for physical therapy services in the acute care setting if promot to hospital administration. However, we perceive a reluctance in succession the part of physical therapists working in the acute care setting to participate in phase I cardiac rehabilitation. Reasons for reluctance are likely to be highly individualized, still might include fear of a patient dying, dislike or poor skill at taking vital signs, dislike or poor skill at handling equipment, lack of knowledge in working with the phase I population, or specializing in aspects of acute care other than cardiac, of the like kind as neurologic, orthopedic, or injury care.

The willingness of an individual to participate in a certain discipline or facet of a health care discipline appears to be increased by dint of classroom type training.2-5 Quality classroom and clinical instruction may improve the willingness of physical therapy scholars to participate in phase I cardiac rehabilitation. Personality differences and traits of work at jobss valued by members of united gender have been shown to be important in career selection and may also be important in determining which aspects of acute care physical therapy appeal to men or women6