2023 Volume 2 Pages 39-51
Objective: To investigate the practice, requirements, and barriers to the development and disperse of standardized outcome measures (SOM) for community-based physical therapy.
Methods: A web-based questionnaire was sent to members of the Japanese Society of Community-based Comprehensive Physical Therapy who are engaged in day-care, home-visit, and facility services to people requiring long-term care.
Results: A total of 188 responded to the survey. While 83.5% recognized the importance of using outcome measures, only 44.7% used them routinely. The top two requirements were reliability and detectability of change for the scale characteristics, and the measurement method were the preparation and financial burden required for the assessment, and the time required to conduct the assessment. The top two barriers were lack of education and lack of opportunities to talk with peers.
Conclusion: We found a gap between the recognition of the importance of outcome measures and their implementation. In order to reach routine use of outcome measures, it is necessary to development SOM that take into account practicality and address barriers characteristic of community-based physical therapy.
