title: The physiotherapy management of patients undergoing coronary artery surgery: A questionnaire survey.
abstract: The current physiotherapy management of patients undergoing coronary artery surgery in 22 public and 13 private hospitals across Australia and New Zealand was examined using a questionnaire survey. Respondents were asked to identify assessment and treatment techniques used in the pre- and post-operative management. An 83 per cent response from physiotherapists was obtained. Ninety-four per cent of respondents reported that pre-operative assessment was performed routinely. Eighty-nine per cent of respondents indicated that all patients were treated routinely by physiotherapists in the post-extubation period. Positioning and deep breathing exercises were the most commonly used techniques for patients post-extubation. Factors determining treatment choice and the impact of research on current physiotherapy practice are discussed.
authors.affiliation: School of Physiotherapy, Curtin University of Technology, Shenton Park, WA, 6008, Australia.
authors.forename: Beatrice
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Tucker
authors.forename: Sue
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Jenkins
authors.forename: Kim
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Davies
authors.forename: Romola
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: McGann
authors.forename: Julie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Waddell
authors.forename: Rebecca
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: King
authors.forename: Vanessa
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Kirby
authors.forename: Colin
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lloyd