Clinical and exercise professional opinion of return-to-running readiness after childbirth: an international Delphi study and consensus statement.

Female athletes have identified a lack of guidance as a barrier to successfully returning to running postpartum, and existing guidelines are vague. Our aim was to define the current practice of determining postpartum run-readiness through a consensus survey of international clinicians and exercise professionals in postpartum exercise to assist clinicians and inform sport policy changes.A three-round Delphi approach was used to gain international consensus from clinicians and exercise professionals on run-readiness postpartum. Professionals who work with postpartum runners participated in an online survey to answer open-ended questions about the following postpartum return-to-running topics: definitions (runner and postpartum), key biopsychosocial milestones that runners need to meet, recommended screening, timeline to initiate running, support items, education topics and factors that contribute to advising against running. Consensus was defined as ≥75% participant agreement.One hundred and eighteen professionals participated in round I, 107 participated in round II (response rate 90.6%) and 95 participated in round III (response rate 80.5%). Responses indicated that, following a minimum 3-week period of rest and recovery, an individualised timeline and gradual return to running progression can be considered. Screening for medical and psychological concerns, current physical capacity, and prior training history is recommended prior to a return to running.This study proposes recommendations for the initial guidance on return-to-running postpartum, framed in the context of current research and consensus from professionals. Future research is needed to strengthen and validate specific recommendations and develop guidelines for best practice when returning-to-running after childbirth.

Clinical and exercise professional opinion on designing a postpartum return-to-running training programme: an international Delphi study and consensus statement.

Returning to running postpartum presents challenges such as musculoskeletal pain and pelvic floor dysfunction for some females, but there is little guidance on developing and progressing postpartum training programmes. This study aims to establish expert consensus recommendations on designing and modifying a postpartum return-to-running training programme, highlight costs and access to qualified professionals as potential barriers and discuss clinical, research and sports policy implications.A three-round Delphi survey of clinical and exercise professionals working with postpartum runners was conducted. Round I consisted of open-ended questions related to designing the training plan, modifications based on biopsychosocial factors, key muscle groups to train and referral and payment sources. Rounds II and III involved Likert-scale voting to identify consensus (≥75% agreement).118 participants completed Round I, 107 completed Round II (response rate 90.6%) and 95 completed Round III (response rate 80.5%). Consensus was reached in 42/47 (89%) statements, including recommendations for a period of relative rest, gradual increases in duration and intensity, starting with a walk-run protocol and incorporating strength training. Training should be modified based on musculoskeletal or pelvic symptoms, sleep, mental health, lactation or energy availability concerns. Cost and access to experienced postpartum running professionals were identified as potential barriers for runners to receive care.Consensus recommendations for a postpartum return-to-running programme include an individualised exercise prescription, gradual increases in physical activity, walk-run protocols and targeted muscle strengthening. Further research and improved access to clinical and exercise professionals are needed to inform and facilitate best practices.

Technical Update No. 433: eHealth Solutions for Urinary Incontinence Among Women.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this technical update is to establish the state of the science regarding emerging and novel electronic health (eHealth) and mobile health (mHealth) solutions for urinary incontinence among women. TARGET POPULATION: Women over 18 years with urinary incontinence. OPTIONS: Websites and mobile health applications are useful in the conservative care of urinary incontinence. Relevant care providers should be familiar with such tools, particularly those that use motivational principles for behaviour change, which can be used as adjunct tools for urinary incontinence care. Telemedicine is an effect mode to provide services for the conservative care of urinary incontinence. OUTCOMES: Use of eHealth and mHealth solutions has potentially significant health outcomes for patients, providers, and global health systems. Broader use of telemedicine, in and of itself, could improve care access and reduce costs incurred by patients and the health care system. BENEFITS, HARMS, AND COSTS: Evidence for the efficacy of eHealth and mHealth technologies and applications for urinary incontinence ranges from weak to strong. However, the research landscape for many of these novel solutions is developing rapidly. Furthermore, these options have minimal or no harm and confer an established cost benefit and care access benefit. EVIDENCE: The Cochrane Library, Medline, EMBASE, CENTRAL databases (from January 2014 to April 2019) were searched to find articles related to conservative care of urinary incontinence in women (over 18 years) and studies on eHealth and mHealth interventions for urinary incontinence. Articles were appraised, and the collective evidence was graded. VALIDATION METHODS: The authors rated the quality of evidence and strength of recommendations using the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) approach. See online Appendix A (Tables A1 for definitions and A2 for interpretations of strong and conditional [weak] recommendations). INTENDED AUDIENCE: Relevant primary care providers and medical specialists, including physicians, nurses, midwives, and pelvic health physiotherapists. SUMMARY STATEMENTS: RECOMMENDATIONS.

No. 397 - Conservative Care of Urinary Incontinence in Women.

OBJECTIVE: To outline the evidence for conservative care, including both assessment and management options, for urinary incontinence in women. INTENDED USERS: Relevant primary care providers and medical specialists including but not limited to physicians, nurses, midwives, and pelvic health physiotherapists. TARGET POPULATION: Women (>18 years of age) with urinary incontinence. OPTIONS: Assessment options include gathering of a detailed history, physical examination, laboratory analysis, urodynamic evaluation, and cystoscopy. Conservative management options include lifestyle management, pelvic floor muscle training, behavioural management, and mechanical devices. OUTCOMES: To provide an evaluation-based summary of current available evidence concerning efficacy of conservative care (assessment and management) strategies for urinary incontinence in women. EVIDENCE: The Cochrane Library and Medline (2013-2018) were searched to find articles related to conservative care of urinary incontinence in women (>18 years). Articles were appraised, and the collective evidence was graded. VALIDATION METHODS: The evidence obtained was reviewed and evaluated by the Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada (SOGC) Urogynecology Committee under the leadership of the principal authors. The quality of evidence was rated using the criteria described in the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) methodology framework. BENEFITS, HARMS, AND COSTS: Evidence for the efficacy of conservative care (assessment and management) options for women with urinary incontinence is strong. Furthermore, these options carry minimal or no harm and confer an established cost benefit. GUIDELINE UPDATE: This SOGC Clinical Practice Guideline will be automatically reviewed 5 years after publication. SUMMARY STATEMENTS: RECOMMENDATIONS.

Directive clinique no 397 - Prise en charge conservatrice de l'incontinence urinaire chez les femmes.

OBJECTIF: Exposer les données probantes relatives à la prise en charge conservatrice, y compris les options d'évaluation et de traitement, de l'incontinence urinaire chez les femmes. UTILISATEURS CONCERNéS: Les fournisseurs de soins de première ligne et les professionnels de la santé spécialisés, y compris, mais sans s'y limiter, les médecins, les infirmières, les sages-femmes et les physiothérapeutes en santé périnéale. POPULATION CIBLE: Les femmes (> 18 ans) atteintes d'incontinence urinaire. OPTIONS: Les options d'évaluation comprennent l'anamnèse détaillée, l'examen physique, les analyses de laboratoire, le bilan urodynamique et la cystoscopie. Les options de traitement conservateur comprennent l'adaptation du mode de vie, la rééducation périnéale, la thérapie comportementale et les dispositifs mécaniques. RéSULTATS: Fournir un résumé reposant sur l'évaluation des données probantes actuellement disponibles sur l'efficacité des stratégies de prise en charge conservatrice (évaluation et traitement) de l'incontinence urinaire chez les femmes. DONNéES PROBANTES: Des recherches ont été effectuées dans les bases de données Cochrane Library et Medline (2013-2018) pour recenser des articles relatifs à la prise en charge conservatrice de l'incontinence urinaire chez les femmes (> 18 ans). Les articles ont été évalués et les données probantes globales ont été cotées. MéTHODES DE VALIDATION: Les données probantes obtenues ont été revues et évaluées par le comité d'urogynécologie de la Société des obstétriciens et gynécologues du Canada (SOGC) sous la direction des auteures principales. La qualité des données probantes a été évaluée au moyen des critères de l'approche GRADE (Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation). AVANTAGES, PRéJUDICE ET COûTS: Les données probantes sur l'efficacité des options de prise en charge conservatrice (évaluation et traitement) de l'incontinence urinaire chez les femmes sont fortes. De plus, ces options comportent peu d'effets nuisibles, voire aucun, et ont un rapport coûts-avantages bien établi. MISE à JOUR DE LA DIRECTIVE CLINIQUE: La présente directive clinique de la SOGC sera automatiquement passée en revue cinq ans après sa publication. DÉCLARATIONS SOMMAIRES: RECOMMANDATIONS.

Healthcare providers' experiences in supporting community-living older adults to manage multiple chronic conditions: a qualitative study.

BACKGROUND: Living with multiple chronic conditions (MCC), the coexistence of two or more chronic conditions, is becoming more prevalent as the population ages. Primary care and home care providers play key roles in caring for older adults with MCC such as facilitating complex care decisions, shared decision-making, and access to community health and support services. While there is some research on the perceptions and experiences of these providers in caring for this population, much of this literature is focused specifically on family physicians. Little is known about the experiences of other primary care and home care providers from multiple disciplines who care for this vulnerable group. The purpose of this study was to explore the experiences of primary and home care healthcare providers in supporting the care of older adults with MCC living in the community, and identify ways of improving care delivery and outcomes for this group. METHODS: The study used an interpretive descriptive design. A total of 42 healthcare providers from two provinces in Canada (Ontario and Alberta) participated in individual semi-structured, face-to-face 60-min interviews. Participants represented diverse disciplines from primary care and home care settings. Inductive thematic analysis was used for data analysis. RESULTS: The experiences and recommendations of healthcare providers managing care for older adults with MCC were organized into six major themes: (1) managing complexity associated with MCC, (2) implementing person-centred care, (3), supporting caregivers, (4) using a team approach for holistic care delivery, (5) encountering challenges and rewards, and (6) recommending ways to address the challenges of the healthcare system. Healthcare providers identified the need for a more comprehensive, integrated system of care to improve the delivery of care and outcomes for older adults with MCC and their family caregivers. CONCLUSIONS: Study findings suggest that community-based healthcare providers are using many relevant and appropriate strategies to support older adults living with the complexity of MCC, such as implementing person-centred care, supporting caregivers, working collaboratively with other providers, and addressing social determinants of health. However, they also identified the need for a more comprehensive, integrated system of care.

Managing multiple chronic conditions in the community: a Canadian qualitative study of the experiences of older adults, family caregivers and healthcare providers.

BACKGROUND: The prevalence of multiple chronic conditions (MCC) among older persons is increasing worldwide and is associated with poor health status and high rates of healthcare utilization and costs. Current health and social services are not addressing the complex needs of this group or their family caregivers. A better understanding of the experience of MCC from multiple perspectives is needed to improve the approach to care for this vulnerable group. However, the experience of MCC has not been explored with a broad sample of community-living older adults, family caregivers and healthcare providers. The purpose of this study was to explore the experience of managing MCC in the community from the perspectives of older adults with MCC, family caregivers and healthcare providers working in a variety of settings. METHODS: Using Thorne's interpretive description approach, semi-structured interviews (n = 130) were conducted in two Canadian provinces with 41 community-living older adults (aged 65 years and older) with three or more chronic conditions, 47 family caregivers (aged 18 years and older), and 42 healthcare providers working in various community settings. Healthcare providers represented various disciplines and settings. Interview transcripts were analyzed using Thorne's interpretive description approach. RESULTS: Participants described the experience of managing MCC as: (a) overwhelming, draining and complicated, (b) organizing pills and appointments, (c) being split into pieces, (d) doing what the doctor says, (e) relying on family and friends, and (f) having difficulty getting outside help. These themes resonated with the emotional impact of MCC for all three groups of participants and the heavy reliance on family caregivers to support care in the home. CONCLUSIONS: The experience of managing MCC in the community was one of high complexity, where there was a large gap between the needs of older adults and caregivers and the ability of health and social care systems to meet those needs. Healthcare for MCC was experienced as piecemeal and fragmented with little focus on the person and family as a whole. These findings provide a foundation for the design of care processes to more optimally address the needs-service gap that is integral to the experience of managing MCC.

An exploration of experts' perceptions on the use of interprofessional education to support collaborative practice in the care of community-living older adults.

Globally, as older adults are living longer and with more chronic conditions, there is a need to support their ability to age optimally in their homes and communities. Community-based interprofessional teams working closely with these older adults, their families, and informal caregivers will be instrumental in achieving this goal. Interprofessional education (IPE) is the means through which these teams can develop expertise in collaboratively working together with older adults. However, most IPE occurs in academic settings, and acute and long-term care sectors and little is known about IPE in the context of home and community care of older adults. The purpose of this study was to describe perceptions of academic and practice experts related to the current state of IPE in home and community care of older adults and the changes that are necessary to meet the future needs of practitioners and older adults. Using a qualitative descriptive design, interviews were conducted with 32 national and international key informants representing practitioners, educators, researchers, and health system decision-makers in the field of IPE. Thematic analysis of the data identified six themes: (a) client and family-centred care at the core of IPE, (b) the community as a unique learning setting across the learning continuum; (c) an aging-relevant IPE curriculum; (d) faculty commitment and resources for IPE; (e) technological innovation to support IPE; and (f) comprehensive IPE programme evaluation and research. These findings are explored through the lens of an interprofessional learning continuum model. The article concludes with a discussion of the study implications for IPE practice and research specifically in the care of community-living older adults.

Integrating physiotherapists within primary health care teams: perspectives of family physicians and nurse practitioners.

The international literature suggests a number of benefits related to integrating physiotherapists into primary health care (PHC) teams. Considering the mandate of PHC teams in Canada, emphasizing healthy living and chronic disease management, a broad range of providers, inclusive of physiotherapists is required. However, physiotherapists are only sparsely integrated into these teams. This study explores the perspectives of "core" PHC team members, family physicians and nurse practitioners, regarding the integration of physiotherapists within Ontario (Canada) PHC teams. Twenty individual semi-structured in-depth interviews were conducted, transcribed verbatim, and then analyzed following an iterative process drawing from an interpretive phenomenological approach. Five key themes emerged which highlighted "how physiotherapists could and do contribute as team members within PHC teams particularly related to musculoskeletal health and chronic disease management". The perceived value of physiotherapists within Ontario, Canada PHC teams was a unanimous sentiment particularly in terms of musculoskeletal health, chronic disease management and maximizing health human resources efficiency to ensure the right care, is delivered by the right practitioner, at the right time.

Figure it out on your own: a mixed-method study on pelvic health survivorship care after gynecologic cancer treatments.

PURPOSE: Pelvic health issues after treatment for gynecological cancer are common. Due to challenges in accessing physiotherapy services, exploring virtual pelvic healthcare is essential. This study aims to understand needs, preferences, barriers, and facilitators for a virtual pelvic healthcare program for gynecological cancer survivors. METHODS: A multi-center, sequential mixed-methods study was conducted. An anonymous online survey (N=50) gathered quantitative data on pelvic health knowledge, opportunities, and motivation. Focus groups (N=14) explored patient experiences and consensus on pelvic health interventions and virtual delivery. Quantitative data used descriptive statistics, and focus group analyses employed inductive thematic analysis. Findings were mapped to the capability, opportunity, and motivation (COM-B) behavior change model. RESULTS: Participants reported lacking knowledge about pelvic health interventions and capability related to the use of vaginal dilators and continence care. Barriers to opportunity included lack of healthcare provider-initiated pelvic health discussions, limited time in clinic with healthcare providers, finding reliable information, and cost of physical therapy pelvic health services. Virtual delivery was seen favorably and may help to address motivational barriers related to embarrassment and frustration with care. CONCLUSION: Awareness of pelvic healthcare is lacking among people treated for gynecological cancer. Virtual delivery of pelvic health interventions is perceived as a solution to enhance access while minimizing travel, cost, embarrassment, and exposure risks. IMPLICATIONS FOR CANCER SURVIVORS: A better understanding of the pelvic health needs of individuals following gynecological cancer treatments enables the development of tailored virtual pelvic health rehabilitation interventions which may improve access to pelvic health survivorship care.

Preferences, barriers and facilitators regarding virtual pelvic healthcare in individuals with gynaecological cancers: protocol for a patient-oriented, mixed-methods study.

INTRODUCTION: Vaginal pain during intercourse and urinary incontinence are common complaints after gynaecological cancer treatments. Pelvic health physiotherapy treatments aim at optimising function through education on the use of vaginal moisturisers, dilation therapy programme and pelvic floor muscle training. Given that barriers such as time, travel, and costs are known to limit access to physiotherapy services, a virtual pelvic health physiotherapy programme may help to facilitate access. The primary objective of this study is to identify preferences, barriers and facilitators from individuals with gynaecological cancer regarding virtual pelvic healthcare survivorship care. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: This patient-oriented, mixed-methods study will involve an online cross-sectional survey data (phase I) and qualitative data from a series of virtual focus groups (phase II). PHASE I: an anonymous survey will be used to assess the demographics, health status, prevalence of urogenital symptoms, as well as knowledge, barriers and facilitators to pelvic health services of people with gynaecological cancer. A total of N=50 participants from Canada will be recruited through convenience and self-selection sampling. PHASE II: a series of virtual semi-structured focus groups will be conducted with 10-15 participants on key topics related to virtual pelvic healthcare. Interviews will be audio-recorded and transcribed, from which key themes and quotes will be identified. An interpretive description qualitative method will guide analysis and implementation of results. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: Approval from the Health Research Ethics Board of Alberta-Cancer Committee (HREBA.CC-21-0498) and of the CISSS Bas-Saint-Laurent (CISSSBSL-2021-10) have been obtained. Informed, electronically signed consent will be required from all participants. Results from this work will be published in a peer-reviewed journal and will be used to inform the development and implementation of a new Pelvic eHealth Module for individuals treated for gynaecological cancers. This module will be incorporated into a comprehensive educational and exercise programme offered by a web-based application.

Development of a national pain management competency profile to guide entry-level physiotherapy education in Canada.

BACKGROUND: National strategies from North America call for substantive improvements in entry-level pain management education to help reduce the burden of chronic pain. Past work has generated a valuable set of interprofessional pain management competencies to guide the education of future health professionals. However, there has been very limited work that has explored the development of such competencies for individual professions in different regions. Developing profession-specific competencies tailored to the local context is a necessary first step to integrate them within local regulatory systems. Our group is working toward this goal within the context of entry-level physiotherapy (PT) programs across Canada. AIMS: This study aimed to create a consensus-based competency profile for pain management, specific to the Canadian PT context. METHODS: A modified Delphi design was used to achieve consensus across Canadian university-based and clinical pain educators. RESULTS: Representatives from 14 entry-level PT programs (93% of Canadian programs) and six clinical educators were recruited. After two rounds, a total of 15 competencies reached the predetermined endorsement threshold (75%). Most participants (85%) reported being "very satisfied" with the process. CONCLUSIONS: This process achieved consensus on a novel pain management competency profile specific to the Canadian PT context. The resulting profile delineates the necessary abilities required by physiotherapists to manage pain upon entry to practice. Participants were very satisfied with the process. This study also contributes to the emerging literature on integrated research in pain management by profiling research methodology that can be used to inform related work in other health professions and regions.

Contexte: Contexte: Les stratégies nationales nord-américaines préconisent des améliorations sensibles à la formation de base en matiére de prise en charge de la douleur afin de contribuer à la réduction du fardeau de la douleur chronique. Des travaux antérieurs ont généré un ensemble de compétences interprofessionnelles utile en matiére de prise en charge de la douleur afin de guider la formation des futurs professionnels de la santé. Cependant, trés peu de travaux ont porté sur l'acquisition de telles compétences pour des professions individuelles dans différentes régions. L'uisition de compétences spécifiques à une profession adaptées au contexte local est une première étape nécessaire pour leur intégration dans les systèmes réglementaires locaux. Notre groupe travaille à cet objectif dans le cadre de programmes de formation de base en physiothèrapie partout au Canada.Objectifs: Cette étude visait à créer un profil de compétences consensuel pour la prise en charge de la douleur, propre au contexte canadien de la physiothérapie.Méthodes: Un devis Delphi modifié a étè utilisé pour parvenir à un consensus parmi des formateurs en milieu universitaire et clinique en matière de douleur en milieu universitaire et clinique.Résultats: Des représentants de 14 programmes de formation de base en physiothérapie (93 % des programmes canadiens) et de six formateurs en milieu clinique ont été recrutés. Après deux tours, 15 compétences ont atteint le seuil d'approbation prédéterminé (75 %). La plupart des participants (85 %) ont déclaré être « très satisfaits ¼du processus.Conclusions: Ce processus a permis de dégager un consensus sur un nouveau profil de compétences en matiére de prise en charge de la douleur propre au contexte canadien de la physiothérapie. Ce profil délimite les habiletés requises des physiothérapeutes pour prendre en charge la douleur en début de pratique. Les participants ont été très satisfaits du processus. Cette étude contribue également à la littérature émergente sur la recherche intégrée en matière de prise en charge de la douleur en définissant une méthodologie de recherche qui peut être utilisée pour éclairer des travaux similaires dans d'autres professions de la santé et dans d'autres régions.

Pelvic floor muscle tenderness on digital palpation among women: convergent validity with central sensitization.

BACKGROUND: Tenderness on palpation of the pelvic floor muscles (PFMs) is a clinical assessment tool used alongside other tests to identify PFM involvement in pelvic complaints including pelvic pain. Although reliability of PFM tenderness has been determined, validity has yet to be established. OBJECTIVES: To assess convergent validity of PFM tenderness on digital palpation with the presence of central pain mechanism, as determined by a score of greater than 40 on the Central Sensitization Inventory (CSI). A secondary objective was to assess the agreement between PFM tenderness and self-reported symptoms of PFM sensitivity. METHODS: Participants completed a battery of self-report questions, the CSI, and various physical assessments (blinded assessors). Convergent validity was assessed between tenderness on palpation and the CSI. Kappa statistics were used to determine agreement between tenderness on palpation and self-reported perineal pain, urinary urgency, dyspareunia, and dysmenorrhea. RESULTS: Ninety-nine female participants with hip or back pain and at least one self-reported symptom of pelvic floor dysfunction were included in the study (mean age 40.56±12.72 years). Convergent validity was found between PFM tenderness on palpation and scores greater than 40 on the CSI (X12=4.2,p=0.04). There was poor agreement between tenderness on palpation with dyspareunia (agreement 62.83%, Kappa=0.27), dysmenorrhea (agreement 55.75%, Kappa=0.14), or perineal pain (agreement 53.04%, Kappa=0.10). CONCLUSIONS: PFM tenderness on digital palpation confirmed convergent validity with CSI scores, suggesting central pain mechanisms. Clinicians may need to consider the role of central pain mechanisms in their clinical decision making when treating PFM dysfunction.

Situating primary health care within the international classification of functioning, disability and health: enabling the Canadian Family Health Team Initiative.

Primary health care (PHC) mandates the provision of services delivered by a collaborative team of providers, ultimately to improve quality of care and health status. Considering the challenges related to interprofessional collaboration within novel PHC models, we explored how the World Health Organization's (WHO) International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) could facilitate the enactment of PHC teams. The Canadian Family Health Team (FHT) initiative is used as an example. This paper will explore how the ICF could inform the development of a practice model to enable PHC. Three potential barriers to the envisioned enactment of PHC within the espoused Canadian FHT initiative are identified through a critical gaps analysis; lack of (i) philosophical grounding, (ii) developmental and operational directives, and (iii) evaluation methods. An ICF-informed practice model is proposed to overcome these potential barriers. It is argued that the proposed ICF-informed practice model has international implications as a unifying conceptual framework ideally situated to facilitate the provision of comprehensive evidence-based person-centered care by interprofessional collaborative teams within diverse PHC models.

Pre-Licensure Inter-Professional Perspectives: Pelvic Health Physiotherapy.

Purpose: In this study, we examined knowledge and perspectives pertaining to pelvic health physiotherapy among medical, midwifery, nursing, and physician assistant students at McMaster University. Moreover, we identified opportunities to improve knowledge translation to facilitate inter-professional education in urogynecological care. Method: A cross-sectional design was created to distribute an online survey to participants using a modified Dillman approach. The survey assessed areas of clinical interest in, knowledge of the scope of practice of, and regulations governing pelvic health physiotherapy in specific, in addition to clinical applications. Fisher's exact and Kruskal-Wallis tests were used to assess statistical significance. Results: A total of 90% of the participants incorrectly indicated that internal digital exams could be delegated to physiotherapy assistants, and 50% believed that Kegel exercises were appropriate for all presentations of pelvic floor dysfunction. Moreover, when prompted to select conditions that could be treated by pelvic health physiotherapists, only 2% of the participants selected the correct conditions. Conclusions: Knowledge in all four programmes about the scope of practice, authorized activities, and application of pelvic health physiotherapy is inadequate. To foster the optimal integration of urogynecology into the relevant health science curriculums, enhanced inter-professional education, inclusive of pelvic health physiotherapy knowledge, appears to be needed.

Objectif : examiner les connaissances et les points de vue relatifs à la physiothérapie pelvienne des personnes étudiant pour devenir médecins, sages-femmes, infirmières ou auxiliaires médicales à l'université McMaster; établir des possibilités d'améliorer l'application des connaissances pour faciliter l'enseignement interprofessionnel en soins urogynécologiques. Méthodologie : les chercheurs ont créé un sondage transversal en ligne au moyen de la méthode de Dillman modifiée. Ce sondage évaluait les secteurs d'intérêt clinique, les connaissances sur le champ d'exercice et les applications cliniques de la physiothérapie pelvienne, de même que la réglementation s'y rapportant. Ils ont utilisé la méthode exacte de Fisher et le test de Kruskal-Wallis pour évaluer la signification statistique des résultats. Résultats : au total, 90 % des participants ont indiqué à tort que les examens digitaux internes pouvaient être délégués à des assistants-physiothérapeutes et 50 % croyaient que les exercices de « Kegel ¼ convenaient à toutes les présentations des dysfonctions pelviennes. De plus, lorsqu'on les invitait à sélectionner des affections qui pouvaient être traitées par des physiothérapeutes pelviens, seulement 2 % des participants choisissaient les bonnes. Conclusion : les connaissances sont insuffisantes dans les quatre programmes à l'égard du champ d'exercice, des activités autorisées et de l'application de la physiothérapie pelvienne. Pour favoriser l'intégration optimale de l'urogynécologie aux programmes pertinents en sciences de la santé, il semble nécessaire d'améliorer l'enseignement interprofessionnel, y compris les connaissances sur la physiothérapie pelvienne.

The complexity of caregiving for community-living older adults with multiple chronic conditions: A qualitative study.

BACKGROUND: Older adults with multiple chronic conditions (MCC) rely heavily on caregivers for assistance with care. However, we know little about their psychosocial experiences and their needs for support in managing MCC. The purpose of this study was to explore the experiences of caregivers of older adults living in the community with MCC. METHODS: This qualitative study was a secondary analysis of previously collected data from caregivers in Ontario and Alberta, Canada. Participants included caregivers of older adults (65 years and older) with three or more chronic conditions. Data were collected through in-depth, semi-structured interviews. Interview transcripts were coded and analyzed using Thorne's interpretive description approach. RESULTS: Most of the 47 caregiver participants were female (76.6%), aged 65 years of age or older (61.7%), married (87.2%) and were spouses to the care recipient (68.1%). Caregivers' experiences of caring for community-living older adults with MCC were complex and included: (a) dealing with the demands of caregiving; (b) prioritizing chronic conditions; (c) living with my own health limitations; (d) feeling socially isolated and constrained; (e) remaining committed to caring; and (f) reaping the rewards of caregiving. CONCLUSIONS: Healthcare providers can play key roles in supporting caregivers of older adults with MCC by providing education and support on managing MCC, actively engaging them in goal setting and care planning, and linking them to appropriate community health and social support services. Communities can create environments that support caregivers in areas such as social participation, social inclusion, and community support and health services.

Enhancing Pelvic Health: Optimizing the Services Provided by Primary Health Care Teams in Ontario by Integrating Physiotherapists.

Purpose: The purpose of this review was threefold: (1) to outline the current landscape of service provision for two common pelvic floor disorders, urinary incontinence (UI) and pelvic organ prolapse (POP); (2) to describe common pelvic floor dysfunctions (UI and POP) and the associated evidence-based, conservative care; and (3) to present the potential to integrate physiotherapists into inter-professional primary health care teams to optimize the provision of care for these disorders. Method: A literature review was undertaken and a case study was developed to describe evidence-informed conservative care for pelvic floor dysfunctions. Results: A variety of models exist to treat pelvic floor disorders. Physiotherapists and nurses are key care providers, and their scope and care provision overlaps. In Ontario specifically, both nurses and physiotherapists with additional postgraduate training in pelvic floor disorders are integrated into primary health care, but only to a very limited degree, and they are arguably well positioned to leverage their skills in their respective scopes of practice to optimize the provision of pelvic health care. Conclusions: Physiotherapists and nurses are shown to be key providers of effective, conservative care to promote pelvic health. There is an opportunity to integrate these types of provider into primary care organizations in Ontario; this collaborative care could translate into improved outcomes for patients and the health care system at large.

Objectif : la présente analyse avait trois objectifs : 1) présenter le paysage actuel des services pour deux troubles courants du plancher pelvien, soit l'incontinence urinaire (IU) et le prolapsus pelvien (PP); 2) décrire des dysfonctions pelviennes courantes (IU et PP) et les soins conservateurs fondés sur des données probantes qui s'y associent et 3) démontrer le potentiel d'intégrer les physiothérapeutes à l'équipe interprofessionnelle de soins de première ligne afin d'optimiser la prestation des soins pour ces troubles. Méthodologie : les chercheurs ont procédé à une analyse bibliographique et à une étude de cas pour décrire les soins conservateurs des dysfonctions pelviennes, prodigués en fonction de données probantes. Résultats : il y a divers modèles de traitement des troubles pelviens. Les physiothérapeutes et les infirmières sont les dispensateurs de soins clés; la portée et la prestation de leurs soins se recoupent. En Ontario tout particulièrement, les infirmières et les physiothérapeutes qui ont une formation avancée sur les troubles pelviens sont intégrés à l'équipe soignante de première ligne, mais seulement à un degré très limité, même si on peut avancer qu'ils sont bien placés pour faire valoir leurs compétences dans leurs portées respectives et optimiser la prestation des soins pelviens. Conclusion : il est démontré que les physiothérapeutes et les infirmières sont des dispensateurs clés de soins conservateurs pour la promotion de la santé pelvienne. Il est possible de les intégrer aux organisations de soins de première ligne en Ontario. Ces soins coopératifs pourraient améliorer les résultats cliniques des patients et de l'ensemble du système de santé.