Physical Therapists’ Perceptions of Barriers to the Use of Evidence-based Fall Prevention Intervention with Individuals of 65 Years of Age or Older

Abstract

Falls are a problem in the elderly population. Evidence-based fall prevention programs are available but physical therapists do not always utilize them. The literature identifies a number of barriers to clinician’s use of evidence-based interventions in general but there is limited knowledge of barriers to the use of evidence-based interventions in the clinical practice area of fall prevention. The purpose of this study was to identify barriers perceived by physical therapists to the use of evidence-based fall prevention interventions with individuals of 65 years of age or older. The study utilized an on-line survey of physical therapists licensed in Texas. The study validated five previously identified barriers (lack of time, patient’s exercise tolerance, professional knowledge deficit, health system bureaucracy, and lack of facility support) and identified six additional barriers perceived by physical therapists to the use of evidence-based fall prevention interventions with individuals of 65 years of age or older (patient comorbidity, lack of resources, productivity expectation, staffing needs, insurance regulations, and remuneration).