A Survey Study of Health Promotion, Wellness, and Prevention in Wound Management Environments

Abstract

Purpose: To survey physical therapists and physical therapist assistants practicing in wound management environments regarding their personal beliefs, clinical practices, and perceived barriers to incorporating health promotion, wellness, and prevention (HPWP) in practice. Methods: A 30-question validated survey was sent to wound care therapists. Results: The qualified response rate was 29%. Therapists reported a belief in their professional role in HPWP as follows: physical (97%), psychological (82%), emotional (79%), intellectual (73%), occupational (73%), social (71%), and spiritual (55%). Practice behaviors that were frequently included by these individuals included nutrition optimization (88%), diabetes/metabolic syndrome education (81%), physical activity/fitness prescription (81%), and tobacco cessation (78%). Conditions least addressed included violence (91%) and substance-free living (75%). Common barriers included lack of resources, time, patient interest, and economic limitations of patients. Respondent lifestyles were generally healthier than adults in the United States. Conclusions: There is an increasing need in physical therapist practice to actively promote health and wellness at the level of the individual. Modeling health behaviors is important to include as well and may be beneficial to support patient healthy lifestyle. While wound management therapists do well in promoting health in certain areas, work is still needed in others.