Can physical therapists counsel patients with lifestyle-related health conditions effectively? A systematic review and implications.
OBJECTIVE
Healthcare professionals' competence in health behavior change has lagged behind other clinical competencies despite the well-established relationship between lifestyle behavior and health. We conducted a systematic review to examine whether physical therapists, given their unique practice pattern, can counsel effectively.


METHODS
Databases including MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL, PsycINFO, and the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews were assessed from 1950 to July 2010. Studies were limited to the English, German, and Dutch languages. The methodological quality was evaluated (Downs and Black tool).


RESULTS
Seven source articles with a mean quality score of 16.57 ± 4.24 points (range: low = 0; high = 28) were retrieved. Given considerable methodological heterogeneity, the studies were compared in a narrative synthesis. The target populations, types and periods of interventions, outcome measures, and findings were analyzed.


CONCLUSIONS
Physical therapists can effectively counsel patients with respect to lifestyle behavior change, at least in the short term. They can be effective health counselors individually or within an interprofessional team.


CONCLUSIONS
Multiple health behavior change needs to be a primary twenty-first century clinical competence in physical therapy. Future studies will establish the degree to which effective health counseling augments physical therapy as well as health outcomes, in the long as well as short term.
International Physiotherapy Program , School of Health Studies, Hanze University of Applied Sciences, Groningen, The Netherlands. wiebke.frerichs@gmail.com
Wiebke
W
Frerichs
Eva
E
Kaltenbacher
Johannes Peter
JP
van de Leur
Elizabeth
E
Dean
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D002983:Clinical Competence; D003376:Counseling; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010348:Patient Care Team; D059825:Physical Therapists; D024382:Professional Role; D012307:Risk Factors; D040242:Risk Reduction Behavior; D055815:Young Adult