Knowledge, Attitude and Counselling Practice of Physiotherapists in the Promotion of Leisure-Time Physical Activity among Patients in Nigerian Hospitals

Abstract

Leisure-Time Physical Activity (LTPA) represents an important aspect of national and community life and is widely recognised as a major component  for prevention and management of several chronic diseases. Physiotherapists (PTs), as health care practitioners, are well placed in promoting LT  physically active lifestyle. The aim of this study was to investigate the association among level of knowledge, attitude and counselling practice (CP) of  PTs in the promotion of LTPA among patients in some Nigerian hospitals. Three hundred and forty eight practising PTs recruited from various  public and private hospitals in 22 states in Nigeria participated in this study. They completed a modified 20-item “Physical Activity Promotion in  Physical Therapy” Questionnaire, which collected information on LTPA promotion in physiotherapy practice. Data obtained were analysed using  descriptive and inferential statistics at an alpha level of 0.05. Results showed that thirty seven (10.6%) of the respondents had high knowledge while  two hundred and six (59.2%) had good attitude in the LTPA promotion among patients. Only seventy (20.1%) of the respondents counselled more  than I0 patients in the past one month on the benefit of engaging in physically active lifestyle during their leisure time. There was a significant  association between attitude (confidence) of the PTs in LTPA promotion and their CP to patients (p = 0.02). In conclusion, PTs need to include  prescription of LTPA as part of regular treatment and home programme plans for their patients. The study also highlights the basis for PTs to  improve their knowledge on the dosage and specific recommendation of LTPA for health benefits of their patients.