Physical Therapy Educational MaterialPO 006.05

Learning Objectives

• The physical therapist technician will contribute to continuing professional education (CPE) by:– Define continuing education and its importance– Explain the role of PT in injury prevention and

health promotion– Assisting with the preparation of educational

materials – Preparing and delivering lectures on request

Continuing Professional Education

• CPE is a voluntary, self-directed learning experience undertaken for personal development and social progress

• Often the term is used synonymously with continuing professional development (CPD)– The process through which professionals engage in a broad

range of educational activities that maintain, develop, and enhance skills and knowledge, in order to improve performance in practice

– PTTs should engage in CPD activities to strengthen their professional profile and ensure continued competence

– These activities should be tracked and recorded

CPE Continued . . .

• CPE is an important in any profession to stay up-to-date on new trends in treatment, as well as to maintain competency in clinical skills

• Competency is the proven ability to use knowledge, skills and personal, social and/or methodological abilities, in work or study situations and in professional and personal development

Continued . . .

• “The skills, competencies and values for a successful lifetime of professional practice cannot be learned in a single educational encounter. Rather, the health professions must recapture the tradition of a continuing commitment to learning. The rate of change in the health care system makes this commitment imperative for the practitioner and society alike. This commitment must transcend passive, continuing professional education and move towards clear standards of continuing competence”

• Pew Health Professions Commission, titled Critical Challenges: Revitalizing the Health Professions for the Twenty First Century‐

PT Continuing Competence

• The ongoing possession and application of contemporary knowledge, skills, and abilities commensurate with an individual’s (physical therapist or physical therapist technician) role within the context of public health, welfare, and safety and defined by a scope of practice and practice setting

Life Long Learning

• The systematic maintenance and improvement of knowledge, skills, and abilities through one’s professional career or working life

• Lifelong learning is the ongoing process by which the quality and relevance of professional services are maintained

Physical Therapy Awareness

• While is it is imperative for PTTs to continuously educate themselves, it is also important to educate others about the physical therapy profession

• This will bring awareness to the PT profession, and its importance and value in the health care setting

PTTs And Education

• PTTs can contribute to education about PT by:– Participating in the education of students by

supervision– Educating and providing consultation to other

health professionals regarding the purposes and benefits of PT

– Contributing to the education of the public

Continued . . .

• The physical therapist technician educates and provides consultation to consumers, the general public, community organizations, clubs and associations regarding the purposes and benefits of physical therapy, and the roles of the physical therapist technician

Grand Rounds

• A ritual of medical education, consisting of the presentation of a particular patient’s medical problems and treatment to an audience consisting of doctors, residents, and other medical professionals

• Training sessions for physicians and other health care providers about health topics

• Grand rounds are held by the doctors at NHM on a weekly basis

Grand Rounds Continued . . .

• Although PT currently does not participate in grand rounds, it is an opportunity for PTTs to educate other health care professionals on the value of PT, as well as the importance of early PT referral in patient care

• PTTs can use grand rounds as a way to address injury prevention and health promotion concerns

Injury Prevention

• Efforts to prevent or reduce the severity of bodily injuries caused by external mechanisms, such as accidents, before they occur

• PTTs can provide valuable contributions to the transformation of the health care delivery system by improving health care quality and outcomes through the prevention, treatment, and management of impairments and health care needs of patients

Injury Prevention Continued . . .

• PTTs are key health care team members who address prevention initiatives, such as:– Reducing falls– Reducing the risk of post-surgical health

conditions– Improving physical activity to mitigate chronic

disease and secondary health conditions– Tailoring wellness programs to populations that

have chronic and acute conditions or disabilities

Health Promotion

• The process of enabling people to increase control over, and to improve their health

• It is the combination of educational and environmental supports for actions and conditions of living conducive to health

• The purpose is to enable people to gain greater control over the determinants of their own health

• PT can have a direct impact on health promotion

Health Promotion Continued . . .• According to the World Health Organization

(WHO), unhealthy diet and physical inactivity rank among the main risk factors for non-communicable diseases

• PTTs are educated to provide insight and interventions to increase physical activity among appropriate patients, to reduce excess body mass, improve health status, and reduce associated chronic disease risk

Inactivity• Physical inactivity is now identified as the

fourth leading risk factor for global mortality• In many countries, levels of physical inactivity

continue to rise, having detrimental effects on the health status of the population

• The benefits of regular physical activity for primary and secondary prevention of several chronic diseases are well recognized and widely established

PTTs and Health Promotion

• PTTs have the skills to address health promotion concerns such as:– Early ambulation– Benefits of physical activity and exercise– Proper exercise technique– Management of MSK conditions– Management of paediatric and geriatric conditions– Non-pharmacological management of pain

Advantages Of Health Promotion

• PTTs can provide a cost-effective alternative for many patients who currently undergo surgery, take costly prescription drugs, or use a variety of medical devices to treat neuromusculoskeletal problems

• PT interventions may be more efficient in the management of chronic conditions when compared to surgeries, pharmaceutical interventions, and medical devices

ANA Specific Health Promotion

• The military setting is unlike the general population, in that soldiers are often required to do tasks which are more strenuous, under more demanding conditions

• PTTs can get involved in health promotion activities through media such as:– Pamphlets and handouts– Lectures and presentations– Posters

Preparing Educational Lectures

• As representatives of the PT department, you may be required to prepare educational presentations for other health care professionals as part of the interdisciplinary team

• Educational presentations are a way to teach large groups of people on your specialty and to promote your profession

Presentations

• When preparing material for a lecture ensure:– Information is up-to-date and uses credible and

reliable resources– The topic is relevant and of interest to the audience– The presentation is well prepared and organized – The information presented is within the scope of

practice of the PTT– The presentation is at an appropriate level for the

audience (i.e. public vs. doctors)

Tips For Presenting• PowerPoint presentations are the most common medium

used• Start with an outline of what the presentation will cover• Keep the slides neat, with minimal clutter• Write in point form • Have notes on hand to expand on points covered in the

slides• Keep presentation time short to maintain the audience’s

attention• Rehearse your presentation to ensure you are

comfortable with the information and the slides• Maintain eye contact with the audience

Questions?

Summary

• PTTs need to continuously seek further educational opportunities to stay current and maintain their clinical skills

• PTTs can play a major role in injury prevention and health promotion

• PTTs are the experts on activity and should seek opportunities to promote healthy living

• Ground Rounds can be an excellent opportunity for PTTs to gain exposure and present educational lectures

Comprehension Check

1. What is CPE/CPD?2. Why is it important for PT techs to educate

others about their profession? 3. What roles can PT techs play in health

promotion?4. What are some media that PT techs can use

for health promotion activities?5. What considerations must be taken into

account when preparing a lecture?

Answers

1. A process through which professionals engage in a broad range of educational activities that maintain, develop, and enhance skills and knowledge, in order to improve performance in practice

2. To bring awareness to the PT profession, and its importance and value in the health care setting

3. The can provide insight/education and interventions to increase physical activity among appropriate patients, to reduce excess body mass, improve health status, and reduce associated chronic disease risk

4. Pamphlets, handouts, lectures, presentations and posters

Answers

5. Ensure:– Information is up-to-date and uses credible and

reliable resources– The topic is relevant and of interest to the audience– The presentation is well prepared and organized – The information presented is within the scope of

practice of the PTT– The presentation is at an appropriate level for the

audience (i.e. public vs. doctors)