title: Development of an instrument to measure attitudes of physical therapy providers working with people with dementia.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study investigated the factor structure of an instrument to measure attitudes and beliefs of how physical therapist (PT) practitioners perceive working with people with a dementia disorder.
  
  
  METHODS
  A survey was mailed to every skilled nursing facility in Indiana (n = 495) for completion by a PT or physical therapist assistant. The survey was developed and included whether the severity of Alzheimer's disease (AD) impacts the attitudes of physical therapy practitioners.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 12 attitudinal questions, 11 were significant (P < .001) concerning how the severity of a diagnosis of AD (early, middle, and late) impacts attitudes of people in physical therapy practice. Principal component analysis identified 3 factors with Eigen values of 3.3 or higher accounting for 43% of the cumulative variance. These factors include professional competence, resources, and conscientiousness.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This brief instrument could serve as an assessment tool to determine whether PT practitioners exhibit therapeutic nihilism when working with people with a dementia disorder.
authors: Krannert School of Physical Therapy, University of Indianapolis, Indianapolis, IN 46227, USA. stapleswh@unidy.edu
authors: William H
authors: WH
authors: Staples
authors: Clyde B
authors: CB
authors: Killian
mesh_terms: D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000534:rehabilitation; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D002983:Clinical Competence; D003704:Dementia / Q000534:rehabilitation; D006801:Humans; D059825:Physical Therapists / Q000523:psychology*; D011594:Psychometrics / Q000295:instrumentation