title: Importance Attributed to Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Competencies by Public Sector Physical Therapists in Kuwait: A Population-based Exploratory Study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Indications for cardiovascular and pulmonary (CVP) physical therapy competencies are changing with the epidemic of non-communicable diseases in Kuwait, particularly lifestyle-related conditions. The degree to which the country's physical therapists (PTs) perceive the importance of CVP competencies (assessment/evaluation and clinical and laboratory investigation interpretation) in professional practice is relevant. Our study objectives were to (1) explore the importance attributed to specific CVP competencies by PTs to professional practice in Kuwait and (2) establish whether these are related to practitioner traits, for example, age, sex, practice setting and specialty.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study design was exploratory with a stratified random sample. Questionnaires (n = 221) were distributed to PTs practicing in the facilities of the Ministry of Health, the primary employer of PTs in Kuwait. Questions included participants' demographics and perceived importance of specific CVP competencies (Likert rating scale 1-not important to 5-highly important).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Response rate was 87% (n = 193). Participant mean age was 36(±9) years, 63% were women and 48% were Kuwaiti. Ratings of moderately important or higher were 84% for cardiac assessment/intervention skills, 78.8% for cardiac clinical/laboratory investigations interpretation, 77.2% for pulmonary assessment/intervention skills and 73.6% for pulmonary clinical/laboratory investigations interpretation. PTs in the musculoskeletal area attributed less importance to the competencies than those in other specialties.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Participants perceived CVP competencies as generally relevant to practice. However, greater importance was attributed to these competencies in relation to management of CVP conditions (e.g. those that address lifestyle-related conditions) rather than across practice areas. Research is needed to elucidate whether this finding reflects the profession's commitment to holistic care, the prevalence of lifestyle-related risk factors and conditions irrespective of a patient's primary complaint presenting to the PT, best evidence-based, non-pharmacologic practice to address these or some combination. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Therapy, Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, Kuwait University, Sulaibikhat, 90805, Kuwait.
authors.forename: Nowall
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Al-Sayegh
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Therapy, Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, Kuwait University, Sulaibikhat, 90805, Kuwait.
authors.forename: Nadia
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Al-Shuwai
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Therapy, Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, Kuwait University, Sulaibikhat, 90805, Kuwait.
authors.forename: Saud M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Al-Obaidi
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Therapy, Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada.
authors.forename: Elizabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Dean
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology; D002983:Clinical Competence; D003906:Developing Countries; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007730:Kuwait; D008171:Lung Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D059825:Physical Therapists / Q000193:education* / Q000592:standards*; D026761:Physical Therapy Specialty / Q000193:education; D010865:Pilot Projects; D017150:Public Sector; D012307:Risk Factors; D012494:Sampling Studies; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: Kuwait; cardiovascular and pulmonary competencies; entry-level curricula; non-communicable diseases