Rehabilitation Knowledge Research Articles

The Course Design of “Movement and Myofascial Chain” Improves the Level of Exercise Rehabilitation of Medical Students

As the central theme of The Times, innovation has put forward new requirements for the development of integrated traditional Chinese and Western medicine. Through investigation, it was found that as an emerging theory, the course development of motor fasciology was in a blank state. This study analyzed the current situation and influencing factors of motor fasciology of undergraduates in a medical college by questionnaire survey. To design the basic theoretical framework of curriculum design based on Taylor’s goal model, choose the teaching content, method, and teaching evaluation of constructivism learning theory, combined with the six steps of medical curriculum design, the standard design of “sports and muscular chain” course in medical college was carried out, including the nature and objectives of the course, teaching content, teaching method, school allocation, and teaching evaluation. Expert consultation was used to demonstrate the critical elements of the course, and finally, the curriculum standards of movement and myofascial chain for medical students were determined. The educational experiment scheme was used to evaluate the effect of the curriculum. The effect of the exercise and myofascial chain curriculum standards was evaluated through a mixed research design combining quantitative and qualitative research, and an experimental evaluation tool was developed. The changes in exercise rehabilitation knowledge and skills based on exercise and the myofascial chain were analyzed before and after the course. Semi-structured personal interviews were conducted to understand the gains and changes in course learning and the evaluation and suggestions for the course. The Movement and Myofascial Chain courses can change students’ cognition of exercise rehabilitation, improve students’ ability to deal with sports injuries, and broaden students’ horizons, enhancing physical literacy by deepening medical students’ understanding of exercise rehabilitation, equipping them with practical skills to address sports injuries, and broadening their perspectives on integrated healthcare practices in both Chinese and Western medicine.

Assessing the Level of Knowledge, Awareness, And Practice of Vision Rehabilitation in Healthcare Professionals of Karachi

Blindness and vision loss are the second most common disabilities that interfere with an individual's daily activities. Multiple barriers to vision rehabilitation exist, including the lack of knowledge and awareness among eye care practitioners and the referral of visually impaired patients for rehabilitation. This study assesses healthcare professionals' knowledge, understanding, and practice regarding vision rehabilitation in Karachi, Pakistan. A cross-sectional study was conducted using online surveys of 58 allied health professionals in Karachi, Pakistan. A self-designed questionnaire was distributed through convenience sampling to evaluate their knowledge, awareness, and practice regarding vision rehabilitation. Participants' demographics were recorded; Pearson correlation and linear regression analysis were used for calculating inferential statistics. Among the 58 responses, 79.3% were Physiotherapists, 72.2% were Occupational Therapists, and 3.4% were Speech Therapists from Karachi. Results showed that professionals were performing good practices (50%) and had fair awareness of vision rehabilitation (60.6%), but their level of knowledge was compromised (28.1%). It was established that allied health professionals in Karachi have limited knowledge, average awareness, and fair practice toward vision rehabilitation.

“It doesn’t get more normal than that!” – challenges with sexuality experienced by people with neuromuscular diseases and their needs for rehabilitation knowledge and guidance on sexual life

Purpose To investigate challenges with sexuality experienced by people with neuromuscular diseases and their needs for knowledge and guidance on sexual life to target future rehabilitation services. Materials and methods 11 semi-structured individual interviews with 10 women and one man with neuromuscular diseases. The methodology was Interpretive Description, using the Crip Theory as the theoretical lens to guide the analysis. Results The sexual expression of people with neuromuscular diseases was affected by three overall themes. Knowledge and approach in society was characterized by a dichotomous relation of being disabled or nondisabled, causing the nondisabled to consider people with neuromuscular diseases to be asexual even though sexual notions were not affected by the neuromuscular disease. Perceptions and notions represented discovering and unfolding sexuality and how a limited representation of people with disabilities in the public discourse made it difficult to find inspirational role models. Self-confidence and autonomy demonstrated how the personal assistants or partners play significant roles to ensure autonomy of people with neuromuscular diseases. Conclusion The challenges related to how sexuality of people with neuromuscular diseses was affected by the lack of knowledge and general approach in society which was either silence or misconceived considerations. The healthcare professionals’ reluctance toward addressing sexuality should be considered when planning rehabilitation services.

Effect of a patient health engagement (PHE) model on rehabilitation participation in patients with acute myocardial infarction after PCI: a study protocol for a randomized controlled trial

BackgroundParticipation in cardiac rehabilitation is low in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Although existing rehabilitation methods have achieved certain results, patient participation in exercise rehabilitation is not ideal. The Patient Health Engagement (PHE) model is designed to ensure that patients improve their participation in cognitive, emotional, behavioral, and other aspects in all phases of exercise rehabilitation. The purpose of this study is to confirm whether the rehabilitation method based on the PHE model improves the rate of patient participation and enhances the rehabilitation effect during cardiac rehabilitation in patients with acute myocardial infarction compared with the traditional rehabilitation model.Methods/designThis is a single-center, double-blind, randomized, controlled trial that will enroll 128 patients. Patients with stable acute myocardial infarction after undergoing PCI who received cardiac rehabilitation and postoperative LVEF ≥ 40%, categorized into Killip class I ~ II and with age ≥ 18 years, will be included in the study. Exclusion criteria are mainly malignant arrhythmias, acute heart failure, congestive heart failure, and patients requiring intra-aortic balloon counterpulsation. Patients will be randomized in a 1:1 ratio to the intervention (1) and control (2) groups. Physicians, rehabilitation specialists, patients, and data collectors will be blinded during the study. A rehabilitator and a specialist nurse will conduct the cardiac rehabilitation. The specialist nurse will hand over the sealed bag containing patient information (group 1 or 2) to the physician. Group 1 will undergo cardiac rehabilitation through the PHE model, three times a week for 3 months. The rehabilitation program will be evaluated and adjusted in time from each period of the rehabilitation. Group 2 will be treated with routine cardiac rehabilitation. The rehabilitation participation rate of the two groups will be evaluated before and after 3 months of intervention. The primary outcome will be the level of patient participation in rehabilitation, and the secondary outcome will include general data of patients, postoperative rehabilitation indicators, cardiac rehabilitation knowledge–attitude–practice questionnaire, cardiovascular adverse events, and a brief mood scale.Expected outcomesWe expect improved cardiac rehabilitation participation rates and rehabilitation outcomes in patients with acute myocardial infarction after undergoing PCI using the PHE model.DiscussionThis approach may increase patient participation in rehabilitation, improve rehabilitation outcomes, and be widely implemented in hospitals and rehabilitation centers.Trial registrationClinicalTrials.gov identifier, ChiCTR2400085276 (Version 2.0 June 04, 2024), https://www.chictr.org.cn.Trial sponsorShandong Second Medical university, Weifang, Shandong. Contact name: Dechun Qin, Address: Shandong Second Medical university, Weifang Shandong. Email: 13562666589@163.com.

Healthcare professionals' knowledge and perceptions of post-stroke rehabilitation in the peripandemic period: an online cross-sectional survey.

The COVID-19 pandemic has profoundly affected healthcare systems, particularly post-stroke rehabilitation centers. The elevated severity of strokes and delayed hospital admissions caused numerous hurdles to rehabilitation administration during the peri-pandemic period. This study surveyed healthcare professionals' knowledge and perceptions of post-stroke rehabilitation during this period. An online cross-sectional survey was administered from September 17, 2023 to February 23, 2024, utilizing the SurveyMonkey platform. The questionnaire included 30 questions addressing participant baseline characteristics, knowledge of definitions and experiences, post-stroke rehabilitation procedures, obstacles encountered during the peri-pandemic period, and the utilization of telerehabilitation. Only complete responses from health professionals were considered. This report utilized convenience sampling. Data were analyzed via descriptive statistics and chi-square tests, with a significance threshold of p < 0.05. A total of 79 health professionals, predominantly physiatrists, neurologists, and physiotherapists, from eight countries participated in the study. Over half of the participants (64.6%) indicated the existence of a dedicated department for post-stroke rehabilitation. Significant obstacles comprised an absence of advanced rehabilitative treatments (60.8%), inadequately skilled workers (50.6%), and restricted space for rehabilitation (46.8%). Telerehabilitation was regarded as a feasible option by 45.6% of participants; nonetheless, obstacles, including patients' telecommunication proficiency and the possibility of diagnostic inaccuracies, were acknowledged. Complementary therapies, such as music and dance therapy, received favorable evaluations from 67.1% to 63.3% of respondents, respectively. The pandemic reduced rehabilitation admissions due to infection concerns (75.9%) and increased multimorbidity cases among patients (48.1%). The study underscores the pandemic's negative effect on post-stroke rehabilitation, emphasizing the necessity for multidisciplinary, customized therapy and enhanced integration of telerehabilitation to overcome access barriers. Addressing obstacles regarding infrastructure, training, and access to advanced approaches, particularly in a post-pandemic context, is essential to improving rehabilitation outcomes.

The acute cross-education effect of foam rolling on the thigh muscles in patients after total knee arthroplasty.

In the early postoperative period after total knee arthroplasty (TKA), joint range of motion (ROM) limitation and increased stiffness due to pain are commonly observed. Previous studies have reported that a single bout of foam rolling (FR) can acutely increase ROM and pain threshold on the contralateral (non-intervention) side in healthy participants. In this study, we aimed to expand this knowledge for TKA rehabilitation and investigated the acute effects of FR intervention on the non-operative side on ROM, stiffness, and pain of the operative side in postoperative patients within the first week after TKA. The study employed a randomized crossover design: 20 patients (mean age 75.0 ± 7.8 years) in the first postoperative week after TKA were divided alternately into Roll_Break and Break_Roll groups in the order of prescription. In the Roll_Break group, after the initial evaluation, a 180-s (60-s × three sets) FR intervention using a roller massager by a physiotherapist for the knee extensors was performed on the contralateral side (non-operative side), followed by the measurement. Afterwards, after 180-s of supine at rest, the measurement was performed again (i.e., control phase). In the Break_Roll group, after the initial evaluation, each patient was placed in a seated resting position for 180-s, and then another measurement was performed (i.e., control phase). After this, the FR intervention was performed for 180-s, and then the measurement was performed again. The intensity of the FR intervention was set to the maximum intensity that did not cause pain. We measured pain using the visual analogue scale at rest and during the knee joint ROM measurements, knee joint active movement ROM, knee joint passive ROM, and stiffness during the knee joint active movement. All outcome variables showed significant improvements after the FR intervention (intervention phase) when compared pre- to post-intervention, and significantly favourable effects were found compared to the control condition. The results showed significant improvements in ROM, pain, and stiffness of the operative side after the FR intervention on the non-operative side. For future therapy approaches for TKA patients, FR treatment of the non-operative side should be employed in the first weeks after surgery.

Knowledge of Cerebral Visual Impairment (CVI) in Children among Eye Care Professionals in Selangor and Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Objective: Cerebral Visual Impairment (CVI), a brain-based visual disorder that affects neural networks that process incoming visual information throughout the brain, poses challenges in diagnosis and managing visual impairment in children. With the prevalence rise in CVI cases among children, there is a growing demand for ophthalmologists and optometrists to address these conditions, emphasising the importance of improving knowledge and awareness for better visual rehabilitation. This study intends to quantify the level of understanding of CVI in children among eye care professionals in Selangor and Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.Material and Methods: Two hundred thirty registered eye care professionals, including ophthalmologists and optometrists across Selangor and Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, participated in this cross-sectional web-based survey. A standardised questionnaire was created through Google Forms and distributed via social media platforms between April and June 2022.Results: The finding showed that the eye care professionals have significantly basic knowledge regarding CVI in children (x2=369; df=2; p-value≤0.01). Most respondents correctly identified variable loss of vision, visual field defects, and abnormal behaviour as clinical features of CVI in children. Additionally, over half of the respondents selected magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) as the appropriate investigation choice.Conclusion: These findings indicate that eye care professionals have basic knowledge and awareness of CVI in children. More research is needed to enhance knowledge and raise awareness about CVI in children among eye-care professionals.

Knowledge of aging, attitudes toward older people and willingness to engage in geriatric rehabilitation among rehabilitation students in southwestern China: a cross-sectional study

BackgroundAs the global elderly population rises, providing quality care for older adults is increasingly challenging. Rehabilitation technicians are crucial in this effort. Their knowledge and attitudes significantly impact care quality and their willingness to work with the elderly. While many studies have examined healthcare professionals’ attitudes toward older adults, few focus on rehabilitation students. This study assesses Chinese rehabilitation students’ knowledge of aging, attitudes toward older individuals, willingness to care for them, and the factors influencing these aspects.MethodsA sample of 890 rehabilitation students from three colleges and universities in southwestern China was investigated with a self-administered questionnaire, which included socio-demographic information, the Palmore Facts on Aging Quiz, the Kogan’s Attitude towards Older People Scale and the Chinese Version of the Interpersonal Reactivity Index. Data analyses were conducted using SPSS version 25.0. Descriptive statistics were used to illustrate the demographic characteristics of the respondents. The frequency and percentage of responses was calculated. Means and standard deviations were computed for general knowledge of aging, attitudes toward older people, and empathy. Independent t-tests and one-way ANOVA assessed differences in FAQ, KAOP, and IRI-C scores between groups. Pearson’s correlation examined correlations among general knowledge of aging, attitudes toward older people and empathy ability. Chi-square or Fisher’s exact tests compared willingness to engage in geriatric rehabilitation across different respondent characteristics. Hierarchical multiple regression analysis explored the independent effect of different variables on attitudes toward older people.ResultsThe Chinese rehabilitation students from three colleges and universities in southwestern China displayed a relatively low level of knowledge about aging, but a generally positive attitude towards older people. Females had significantly more positive attitudes toward older people than males(p<0.01). The students who had previous experience of being cared for by (maternal) grandparents, living with the elderly, and taking care of the elderly showed significantly more positive attitudes toward older people (p = 0.001, 0.007 and 0.007, respectively) and a significantly stronger willingness to engage in geriatric rehabilitation(p = 0.013, <0.01 and <0.01, respectively) than those who had not had these experiences. Students with good relationships with older people had more positive attitudes toward the elderly (p < 0.01) and greater willingness to engage in geriatric rehabilitation (p < 0.01). Those with frequent contact with the elderly also showed more positive attitudes (p < 0.01) and a stronger willingness to engage in geriatric rehabilitation (p = 0.002) compared to those with less contact. Knowledge of aging and empathy ability were both significantly positively related to attitudes toward older people and both independent predictors of attitudes toward older people(r = 0.143, p<0.01 and r = 0.337, p<0.01).ConclusionsIt is crucial to prepare rehabilitation students with adequate knowledge and positive attitudes to ensure the quality of rehabilitation and care provided to older people. Educators should adopt effective strategies to promote rehabilitation students’ geriatric rehabilitation knowledge and increase their positive attitudes toward older people.

Navigating Rehabilitation: the General Index of Rehabilitation Knowledge developed by Cochrane rehabilitation through a global interprofessional Delphi process.

Navigating Rehabilitation: the General Index of Rehabilitation Knowledge developed by Cochrane rehabilitation through a global interprofessional Delphi process.

Clinician and patient experiences with shared decision-making to promote daily arm use for individuals with chronic stroke: an exploratory qualitative study.

To explore the attitudes and experiences of clinicians and individuals with chronic stroke on the use of shared decision-making (SDM) during upper extremity rehabilitation to improve daily arm use in the home environment. Specifically, we aimed to describe clinician and client perspectives regarding the facilitators and barriers to using SDM within the context of a self-directed upper extremity intervention for individuals living in the community with chronic stroke. Data were collected within the context of an interventional study examining the feasibility of the Use My Arm-Remote intervention. Focus group interviews were conducted with the clinicians (n = 3) providing the intervention and individual semi-structured interviews with the participants (n = 15) of the study. All interview data were collected after the end of the intervention period. Data were analyzed using thematic analysis. The following themes were identified: (1) Equal partnership; (2) Enhancing clinician confidence; and (3) This is different. Facilitators and barriers were identified within each theme. Key facilitators for clinicians were competence with SDM and patient characteristics; while facilitators for patients were open and trusting relationships with clinicians and personalized experience. Key barriers to SDM for clinicians were lack of expertise in SDM and participant buy in; while patients identified a lack of foundational knowledge of stroke rehabilitation as a potential barrier. Key barriers were analyzed using the consolidated framework for advancing implementation science to interpret results and identify strategies for enhancing the implementation of SDM in a virtual setting. The CFIR-ERIC tool highlighted the need for targeted educational meetings and materials to address the training and educational needs of both clinicians and patients for future iterations of this intervention.

Knowledge and Awareness of Pelvic Floor Disorders and Rehabilitation in Postpartum Women: An Observational Study

Abstract Background The prevalence of pelvic floor disorders (PFDs) is considerably high, yet, only a handful of women seek help as most of them accept it as a consequence of pregnancy, childbirth, and as a part of aging process. Pelvic floor physiotherapy is considered primary treatment for management of PFDs. Inadequate knowledge is a major obstacle in seeking appropriate treatment. The present study intends to evaluate the knowledge and awareness of PFDs and rehabilitation in postpartum women. Methodology The study comprised of 316 postpartum women from a tertiary care center in Belagavi district. Data was collected through an interviewer-administered questionnaire about PFDs and questions to assess awareness of pelvic floor physiotherapy. Outcome Measures Australian Pelvic Floor Questionnaire which comprises of 42 questions, divided in 4 domains, about bladder, bowel, prolapse, and sexual function was used along with 6 self-designed questions about pelvic floor physiotherapy, to evaluate the knowledge of PFDs and rehabilitation. Results The statistical analysis was done using the SPSS software version 26. The prevalence of PFDs was 63.6% with bladder component affected in 54.11%, bowel in 26.8%, prolapse symptoms in 2.21%, and sexual function in 22% postpartum women. They lacked knowledge regarding PFDs and rehabilitation with 84.4% considering the symptoms as normal and only 5.69% aware about pelvic floor physiotherapy. Conclusion The study concludes that there is a high prevalence of PFDs and a substantial lack of knowledge and awareness regarding PFDs and its rehabilitation.

Anatomical-Based Customized Cervical Orthosis Design in Automation

Cervical orthoses, vital for neck immobilization in medical care and sports, often struggle to provide adequate support due to individual neck shape and size variations. This study addresses this issue by developing a specific computer-aided orthosis design software tailored for creating customized 3D-printed cervical orthoses. The self-developed software embedded anatomical and rehabilitation knowledge into the orthosis design process, ensuring consistency and reducing manual modification. Finite element analysis of cervical orthoses determined that a minimum thickness of 5 mm PLA (polylactic acid) material is necessary to meet safety requirements. This study highlights the automation potential of customized computer-aided orthosis design and underscores the potential to revolutionize orthopedic care. We also applied easy-to-access 3D printing technology to fabricate well-fitting and immobilized cervical orthoses. These customized cervical orthoses offer a promising future with the advantages of being cost-effective, lightweight, immobility, comfortable, easy to wear, and minimal accessories to meet clinical needs, enhancing patient comfort and compliance and providing reassurance about the economic benefits of the technology.

Knowledge, attitudes and beliefs on disability and vocational rehabilitation of injured male migrant workers in Singapore

PurposeThere are over 300,000 male migrant workers in Singapore. Around 600 major workplace injuries are reported in Singapore each year, mainly in the manufacturing and construction injuries. Migrant workers who are affected by workplace injuries often face many challenges, including not being able to work and thus may be repatriated to their home countries, which affects their financial status and that of their families, whom they support. This research aims to explore the knowledge, attitudes and beliefs of injured migrant workers in Singapore, towards disability and vocational rehabilitation.Design/methodology/approachFifteen male migrant workers, from Bangladesh, China and India, who had acquired disabling injuries in their workplaces in Singapore, were identified through purposive sampling. They were interviewed by a male interviewer, either in Mandarin Chinese or with the assistance of interpreters for Bengali-English and Tamil-English. Interviews were recorded, transcribed, translated to English, then analysed thematically.FindingsThe interviewees generally had a pessimistic outlook on their disability, which often impacted negatively on their self-worth and familial relationships. Many of them also had little knowledge of vocational rehabilitation and had not yet seriously considered future job prospects.Originality/valueTo the best of the authors’ knowledge, there are no similar studies exploring the knowledge, attitudes and beliefs of injured migrant workers in Singapore towards disability and vocational rehabilitation.

Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice of Physiotherapists about Cardiac Rehabilitation Program Adherence among Patients Discharged from the Hospital after Cardiac Surgery in India.

In most settings, patients receive phase 1 cardiac rehabilitation in CTVS ICU at the hospital, but there are several barriers to follow-up after patients are discharged from the hospital. Physiotherapists play an important role in the enrolment and continuation of cardiac rehabilitation. Thus, we aim to study the knowledge, attitude, and practice of physiotherapists about CR program adherence among patients discharged from the hospital after cardiac surgery. (i) To study the knowledge of physiotherapists about the importance of cardiac rehabilitation after discharge; (ii) to know the attitude of physiotherapists towards cardiac surgery patients after discharge; and (iii) to know what approach various centres are applying for patients after discharge to ensure adherence to cardiac rehabilitation. A questionnaire was developed with reference to the objectives of the study, which was answered by a total of 127 physiotherapists. The overall response rate was 42.3%; nearly 35.4% of the participants indicated that they knew a lot about CR, while 5.5% said they knew very little. Regarding the program's content, 36.2% of participants reported having a medium degree of awareness of the diverse CR components, while 8.6% reported having very little knowledge of them. Only about one-third, 35.7% stated that CR in India is effective and 95% believed that CR will have an added value for the country. Approximately 80% of respondents thought that it would be challenging for a physiotherapist to recommend patients to a CR in the nation. Nearly 35% of respondents believed that they, "themselves as physios," needed to commence CR, and slightly less than 70% thought that doctors were required to choose and refer the patients when asked who should take the initiative to start this kind of programme in the country. A little over 40% of respondents said that insurance firms are also involved in starting a CR programme. Physiotherapists have good knowledge of cardiac rehabilitation. However, their attitude and practice towards adherence to exercise protocols are confounded by various clinician- and patient-level factors.

Attitudes of cardiac rehabilitation and stroke teams towards integration of stroke survivors into adapted cardiac rehabilitation: A focus group study

Objective To explore the attitudes and beliefs of cardiac rehabilitation and stroke teams towards adapted cardiac rehabilitation, and the broader topics of exercise, healthy lifestyles and health behaviour change, for people with mild-to-moderate severity stroke in the sub-acute phase of recovery. Design Qualitative focus group-based study. Setting Acute and community national health service trusts. Participants Stroke and cardiac rehabilitation team members. Intervention Adapted cardiac rehabilitation. Main measures Focus groups. Thematic analysis was applied to the transcribed data. Results Overall, 57 health professionals participated in 12 focus groups. Positive impacts for teams and stroke survivors were identified particularly confidence. However, there were negatives, barriers and adaptations identified. In addition, there was a lack of knowledge for cardiac rehabilitation teams in relation to stroke survivors and stroke teams in relation to cardiac rehabilitation, exercise and healthy lifestyles. Conclusions Cardiac rehabilitation and stroke staff attitudes to cardiac rehabilitation for stroke survivors showed a range of benefits, negatives, barriers and adaptations needed. Confidence and knowledge of the cardiac rehabilitation and stroke teams needs to be addressed. Registration ISRCTN65957980.

Knowledge, attitudes, and practices of cardiac rehabilitation among physiotherapists in Morocco.

Cardiovascular disease is a growing challenge worldwide, and Morocco is no exception. Despite its growing popularity, cardiac rehabilitation is still largely underutilized. In order to improve the provision of cardiac rehabilitation, a study of the knowledge, attitudes, and practices of physiotherapists in Morocco, key players in cardiac rehabilitation, is described. This assessment highlights existing skill gaps and enables the necessary corrective measures to be identified. This cross-sectional study included Moroccan physiotherapists working in different institutions (public and private) in different regions of Morocco. A total of 145 valid questionnaires were collected (33% response rate). The results showed that 72.4% of respondents had a medium level of knowledge of cardiac rehabilitation, 93.8% had a positive attitude, and 73% of physiotherapists said they sometimes practiced cardiac rehabilitation. Subgroup analysis showed that the lower the level of education, the more negative the knowledge and practice of rehabilitation. The results also showed that physiotherapists working in education sector and private clinics had better practice than those working in hospitals.

Exploring the perceptions and experiences of community rehabilitation for Long COVID from the perspectives of Scottish general practitioners’ and people living with Long COVID: a qualitative study

ObjectivesTo explore the experience of accessing Long COVID community rehabilitation from the perspectives of people with Long COVID and general practitioners (GPs).DesignQualitative descriptive study employing one-to-one semistructured virtual interviews analysed...

The Retos journal is in the second quartile of Scopus: a bibliometric analysis from 2016 to 2023

The Journal of Retos has been selected to be included in Scopus' second quartile in the fields of education, orthopaedics and sports medicine, physiotherapy, sports therapy, and rehabilitation starting from January 25, 2024. Although it is worth mentioning that this accomplishment came almost ten years after the magazine Retos was included in Scopus in 2016, it has now risen to the second quartile. The objective of the study is to present a graphical representation of the scientific patterns observed in the journal Retos from 2016 to 2023. Bibliometric analysis facilitates the identification and examination of scientific trends, as well as the assessment of research structure, patterns, and trends. Hence, bibliometric analysis is a pertinent and crucial approach for attaining the goals of this study. We conducted an analysis on a dataset consisting of 2334 entries obtained from the Scopus data center. This study employed the software VOSviewer and Rstudio for doing bibliometric analysis. The findings suggest that the topics of physical education and physical activity are prevailing. The growing specialized topics are BAPNE techniques and neuromotricity. Journal Retos has made significant contributions to the advancement of knowledge in various areas, including education, orthopaedics, sports medicine, physiotherapy, sports therapy, and rehabilitation, on a global scale. Keywords: Bibliometric; Retos Journal; Scientific Journals; Second Quartile of Scopus.

Current knowledge and practice of post-stroke unilateral spatial neglect rehabilitation: a national survey of Nigerian physiotherapists

BackgroundUnilateral spatial neglect (USN) is a leading cause of disability and handicap in stroke survivors affecting functional recovery. Therapists’ knowledge and practice in post-stroke unilateral spatial neglect are key to the success of rehabilitation.AimThis study aimed to evaluate physiotherapists’ knowledge of USN and the current practice of USN management.MethodA cross-sectional study was undertaken among Nigerian physiotherapists (N = 240). An online structured questionnaire that assessed respondents’ knowledge, current practice, barriers, and enablers to post-stroke USN rehabilitation was administered.ResultsThe total knowledge score was 12.6 ± 4.75 on a scale of 25. Few physiotherapists (7.92%) demonstrated good knowledge of USN. Postgraduate certification (p = 0.001), clinical practice setting (p = 0.008), and working full time in neurorehabilitation (p = 0.033) were significantly associated with the therapist’s knowledge of USN. There was a nonsignificant positive correlation between the duration of practice in the neurorehabilitation setting (r = 0.02; p = 0.854) and USN knowledge. A nonsignificant minimal negative correlation between practice as a physiotherapist (r = − 0.02; p = 0.772) and USN knowledge was also noted. The age of physiotherapists showed no linear relationship with the therapist’s knowledge of USN (r = − 0.00; p = 0.992). Constraint-induced movement therapy (86.47%) was the most commonly used USN treatment, while Albert’s test (49.37%) was the most utilized screening tool for USN.ConclusionsVery few physiotherapists had good knowledge of USN. Participants’ knowledge increased as they attained higher education levels relating to neurological physiotherapy. These findings emphasize the need for specialist rehabilitation training for physiotherapy practice.

Assessment of Level of Awareness and Barriers to Low Vision Rehabilitation Among Optometrists in Pakistan

Introduction: Low vision rehabilitation provides strategies to substitute for visual impairment and the resultant limitations of low vision by enhancing remaining vision and other sensory or motor abilities in individuals. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the level of knowledge of and perceived barriers to providing low vision rehabilitation by optometrists in Pakistan. Methods: In this qualitative, cross-sectional study, a convenient sample of 100 participants was included and a structured, validated, self-administered questionnaire was provided to collect demographic information and to identify the level of knowledge, awareness, and perceived barriers regarding low vision rehabilitation. Data was analyzed using frequency distribution and Pearson's chi-square test to understand the significance of barriers to low vision care provision. Results: A total of 100 participants completed the study questionnaire (59 males, 41 females) with a mean age of 26 (±6.1 SD) years. Eighty-two participants (82%) had an adequate understanding of low vision as per WHO's criteria. However, 47% of participants failed to identify the steps of low vision rehabilitation. Newly graduated practicing optometrists (i.e., those with less than 3 years’ experience) had a significantly better understanding of low vision definition and low vision rehabilitation steps, as compared to more experienced optometrists ( p &lt; .05). Also, those working in private practices were more likely to consider low vision rehabilitation as less profitable ( p = .025, odds ratio = 2.56, CI = 1.1–5.8), compared to those working in hospitals. Discussion: Lack of training and unavailability of low vision devices are major barriers, as perceived by optometrists in Pakistan. Rigorous attempts are needed to educate eye care practitioners specifically optometrists about the availability and usage of low-cost, improved-quality, and up-to-date low vision devices in the country. Implications for practitioners: Continuous professional development through refresher courses is crucial to enhance knowledge of low vision rehabilitation. Educating optometrists to adopt a multidisciplinary and empathetic approach toward patient management may improve patients’ satisfaction and success with rehabilitative services.