A United Kingdom survey of physiotherapists involvement in cardiac rehabilitation and their perceived skills and attributes

Purpose The aim was to establish the provision of physiotherapists in the United Kingdom in cardiac rehabilitation and the perceived skills and attributes required in the delivery of cardiac rehabilitation, using a survey tool devised by a local clinical interest group.

Background In the United Kingdom, the grades and provision of physiotherapists involved in the delivery of cardiac rehabilitation has not been fully established. Furthermore, unlike other countries the common and specialist tasks, including skills and attributes of each member of cardiac rehabilitation teams, have not been defined.

Method A focus group, made up of members of the West of Scotland Cardiac Rehabilitation Clinical Effectiveness Group, was established to design a survey tool. The characteristics and demographic information of the physiotherapist formed the first part of the survey tool. The second part included 54 questions in four sections, addressing general, professional, exercise and measurement questions pertaining to physiotherapists skills and attributes. The survey was piloted and then sent to all registered centres in the British Association for Cardiac Rehabilitation and the Scottish Cardiac Rehabilitation Interest Group data bases. A total of 292 cardiac rehabilitation centres were identified and surveyed.

Results There were 198 responses, giving a response rate of 67.8%. A small number of responses came from other health professionals and these were not included in the analysis. A total of 188 responses were therefore included in the final analysis. Those in the static posts numbered 157 (83.5%), while 24 (12.8%) were in rotational posts. There were seven (3.7%) non-responses. The majority, 148 (78.7%) were at Senior I grade and above. Of the hours involved in cardiac rehabilitation delivery, 134 (71.3%) physiotherapists provided less than 18h per week. The mean number of years involved in cardiac rehabilitation was 5 years. The majority of involvement was 83% in the outpatient phase III component of cardiac rehabilitation. Twenty-nine of the 54 listed criteria were rated as either essential or important.

Conclusions The findings from this survey provide a picture of the grades and levels of involvement of physiotherapists in cardiac rehabilitation. The majority of physiotherapists were Senior I and above grades and were involved in phase III. The exercise component of risk stratification, prescription, delivery, referral and continuous professional development, were perceived as the main requirements of cardiac rehabilitation physiotherapists.