Purpose: Determine how risk managers perceive the role of PTs in preventing and treating work-related musculoskeletal injuries. Subjects: 48 FL risk managers from the Risk and Insurance Management Society, Inc. Methodology: Self-designed survey was first used in a pilot study (10 FL risk managers & 10 FL licensed PTs). Modification of final survey included a listing of the 5 most commonly reported health care professionals: PT, Nurse, OT, DC and MD. Total of 150 surveys mailed out. Respondents asked to rank professionals on scale of 1 to 5 (1= most competent, 5=least competent) in prevention and treatment categories. Results: 51 surveys returned, 34% response rate. Three surveys omitted (N=48). PTs ranked highest in one prevention category: body mechanics (1.69, N=41). Nurses, occupational therapists and medical doctors received highest ranking in other prevention categories. MDs ranked highest in 7/10 treatment categories. PTs ranked highest at treating muscle strains (2.23, N=30), developing work hardening programs (1.67, N=42) and prescribing strength conditioning exercises (1.71, N=41). Overall mean ranking of PTs = 2.4. Conclusion: PTs perceived to be fairly competent as a whole for all services targeted within this study. Further education among business and industrial communities should be utilized to improve professional image in areas where PTs were not ranked as most competent.
| Date of Award | Jan 1 1998 |
|---|
| Original language | English |
|---|