Australian Pre-Exercise ScreenThe New Standard

PRESENTED BY:Max MARTIN BAppSc (Hons) AEP

@Fitnessorgau

#filex2011

@iNformMaxMartin

@Fitnessorgau

#filex2011

@iNformMaxMartin

facebook.com/fitnessorgau

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An industry exposed

April 27th 2010

“I’d like to know what sort of pre-screening they’ve had”

Satisfactory answer?

Common for clients to be screened prior to physical activity programs referrals do occur to medical and AHP for guidancePart of qualification content and industry codes of practiceHowever practice is variable and non-systematic

American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM)

Sports Medicine Australia (SMA – 2005)

Physical Activity Readiness Questionnaire (PAR-Q)

Why not good enough?

Systems generally too complicated

Exclusions higher than required

Industry practice

Reps council and NIC (7 x RICs) = 40 businesses

adapted tool without clear process for information

5% of business reported using an endorsed system in its entirety

10% complied with formal health management process

identifies lack of clarity and surety

75% included a legal with 35% being ½ page in length or longer!

‘point of sale’ items to satisfy legal requirements, rather than thorough health screening and advice.

Applied at reception and then filed away

Industry practice

**Usage is High – Application is low**Limited risk stratification and ‘good’ referral practices

Industry feedback

Weaknesses in current practice

Legal rather than health orientation

Info not being passed on to EPs

Not sure what to do with info provided

No clear definition of risk and no reference to intensity

No education element to client

No electronic version

Industry feedbackDesirables – the shopping listA standardized Q, preferable 1 page

Application across different delivery modes and settings

Practical and efficient (no unnecessary questions)

Clear process for information handling and client care

Understanding health and legal liability

Opportunity for network with AHP

Ensuring EPs highlighting benefit to client in educating them and making them aware of their health

Educating EPs to write ‘good’ referral letters to GPs leading to good relationships

The challenge

Broad range of professionals

23,500 registered exercise professionals (REPS) in many roles

3,100 Accredited Exercise Physiologists in various settings

A largely sedentary population increasing in age and fatness and decreasing in fitness

Government, media and medical messages to improve health through participation in exercise

Obviously positive message but with potential for negative health outcomes in ‘at risk’ population

An ideal answer

Development of a national, standardised, fitness industry specific tool.First step in identifying those ‘at risk’ prior to commencement.Reduction in risks to participants.Risk stratification and adequate programmingClient education about their health

A health, fitness and exercise consortium

Recognition of need to develop toolBroad application across physical activity and exercise sectors and experienceNeed to engage broad based national support and endorsement from the health sector

Development Process

2 day face to face meeting of expert panelreviewed standard and adapted screening forms from various fitness centres + feedback from industry Tool needs to identify those that really needed to be identified. Did not want to rule out too many as past tools.Balance between highly technical tool with requirement for extensive clinical skill, and usability.The balance has shifted to valuable information, and responsibility of the EP to apply information to programming.

Development Process

Benefits of tool

confidence and education to clientprogramming guideopportunity for better referrals (great marketing strategy!)increased respect from medical and AHP community

Barriers to your application??

Where to from here?Referred to in the training package (under continuing improvement).

Government aware and supportive

AGPN and DOHA - briefed and aware of development process – grant application for education forums – as part of Healthy Communities Initiative – tool can be highlighted during this process

Building block for future path for referral pathways

Ongoing development through industry feedback

Children’s tool – understanding of need

A vision for change

April 27th 2010

An invitation to participate

PRESENTED BY:Max MARTIN BAppSc (Hons)AEP

@iNformMaxMartinmax@correctiveexerciseaustralia.com