title: Physical therapists' perceptions and use of standardized assessments of walking ability post-stroke.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine physical therapists' perceptions and use of standardized assessments of walking ability post-stroke.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross-sectional survey.
  
  
  METHODS
  A questionnaire was posted to physical therapists in neurological practice registered in Ontario, Canada (n = 1155). Of the 705 responders, 270 treated adults with stroke and completed the questionnaire.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Assessment tools most frequently used with > 6/10 patients were the Chedoke-McMaster Stroke Assessment (61.1%), Functional Independence Measure (45.2%), and gait speed test (32.2%). Only 11.1% consistently used the 6-minute walk test. The tools were used to evaluate (44.6%), monitor change over time (42.9%), form a prognosis (19.4%) or judge readiness for discharge (28.4%). Some therapists (40.1%) were unaware or unsure that valid and reliable measures of walking exist. As many as 80.5% of respondents agreed or strongly agreed that clinical practice guidelines should recommend specific measures of walking ability for use post-stroke.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A moderate number of physical therapists consistently use standardized assessment tools to evaluate or monitor change in walking limitation post-stroke. Interventions to improve use must increase awareness, in addition to the perceived relevance and applicability, of recommended assessment tools.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Therapy, University of Toronto, 160-500 University Avenue, Toronto, Ontario, M5G 1V7, Canada. nancy.salbach@utoronto.ca
authors.forename: Nancy M
authors.initials: NM
authors.lastname: Salbach
authors.forename: Sara J T
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Guilcher
authors.forename: Susan B
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Jaglal
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards; D026741:Physical Therapy Modalities; D026761:Physical Therapy Specialty; D057566:Self Report; D020521:Stroke / Q000503:physiopathology; D000071939:Stroke Rehabilitation; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016138:Walking / Q000502:physiology; D000078329:Workforce