How Neighborhood Walkability Affects Physical Therapists' Recommendations for Older Adults
Author Information
Author(s): Jennifer Blackwood, Hannah Karczewski
Primary Institution: University of Michigan
Hypothesis
Physical therapists' perceptions of neighborhood walkability influence their recommendations for outdoor walking for older adults.
Conclusion
Physical therapists showed a significant difference between their perceived responsibility to assess walkability and their actual assessment practices.
Supporting Evidence
- 122 outpatient physical therapists participated in the study.
- A significant difference was found in perceptions of assessing walkability.
- The study identified key factors influencing walking recommendations.
Takeaway
This study found that physical therapists think they should check how walkable a neighborhood is before telling older adults to walk outside, but many don't actually do it.
Methodology
A cross-sectional survey was sent to 5000 physical therapists, and responses were analyzed using Chi-square analyses.
Limitations
The study only included outpatient physical therapists working in geriatrics, which may limit the generalizability of the findings.
Participant Demographics
Outpatient physical therapists who work with older adults.
Statistical Information
P-Value
< 0.001
Statistical Significance
p<0.001
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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