Satisfaction and attitudes towards online continuous medical education and its impact on clinical practice among physiotherapists.

BACKGROUND: The traditional face-to-face of medical education is gradually being replaced with online education. However, the rate of adoption of online continuing medical education (OCME) as a learning method among practicing clinical physiotherapists (PTs) is unclear. The objectives of this study were to measure the satisfaction with, attitudes towards, and impact of OCME among practicing clinical PTs in Saudi Arabia (SA) and to examine the factors that affect the findings for satisfaction, attitude, and impact towards OCME. METHODS: This cross-sectional survey was conducted between October 2021 and January 2022. PTs employed at various medical facilities and specialties in Saudi Arabia completed an online survey to assess satisfaction with, attitudes towards, and impact of OCME. RESULTS: Of the 127 participants, 48 were female (37.8%), 44.1% were aged between 24 and 30 years. Overall, 57.5% of the respondents were satisfied with OCME compared with conventional face-to-face education, and 45.7% agreed and 18.1% strongly agreed that OCME was more flexible. Further, 52.8% of the respondents thought that OCME programs could supplement traditional face-to-face education. The majority of the participants (63.8%) agreed that participating in OCME programs increased their knowledge, and 55.1% and 51.2% agreed that attending these programs improved patient outcomes and increased their confidence in patient management, respectively. However, only 38.6% agreed that participating in OCME programs enhanced their clinical expertise. The mean satisfaction, attitude, and impact scores differed significantly according to age group, marital status, number of years of practice, and specialty (p < 0.0001). Multiple regression analysis showed that older age was independently associated with better satisfaction and more positive attitudes and impact. Further, having a specialization also seemed to improve the impact of OCME. CONCLUSION: The PTs were satisfied with and had positive attitudes towards OCME, and also found that it had a positive impact on their clinical practice. Thus, existing OCME programs are a good option for expanding the number of PTs proficient in clinical care.

Perceptions of Post-Stroke Fatigue among Health Care Practitioners: A Qualitative Interview Study.

Background and Objectives: Post-Stroke Fatigue (PSF) is a complex, multidimensional, debilitating condition that affects almost half of all stroke survivors. This study explored the perceptions of physiatrists, physiotherapists, and occupational therapists about PSF and their experiences in managing patients with PSF in Saudi Arabia. Materials and Methods: Qualitative semi-structured interviews were conducted with participants from three different groups: eight physiotherapists (PTs), eight occupational therapists (OTs), and eight physiatrists (DRs). Using purposive sampling, participants with at least one year of experience in the field of PSF management were invited to take part. The data were analysed using inductive thematic analysis. Results: Twenty-four health care participants (eight PTs, eight OTs, eight DRs) were recruited. Five overarching themes encompassing various subthemes and sub-subthemes were generated: 'knowledge about post-stroke fatigue', 'diagnosing post-stroke fatigue', 'treatment approach', 'lack of awareness about post-stroke fatigue', and 'domains to improve'. The data indicated that participants used various strategies to manage PSF, including dietary changes, sleep hygiene, exercise, and energy conservation. Conclusions: Participants acknowledged that they lacked PSF-related management skills, despite possessing adequate knowledge about the management of stroke. Their openness to participating in activities that would improve their ability to diagnose and manage PSF was particularly striking.

Experiences and Perceptions of Post-Stroke Fatigue Among Stroke Survivors in Saudi Arabia: A Qualitative Interview Study.

Purpose: Post-stroke fatigue (PSF) is a debilitating condition that negatively impacts the quality of life of stroke survivors. The rehabilitation of stroke survivors is important for their quality of life, and rehabilitation programs that cater to the needs of these patients are required. However, there is very little published information on their needs, especially in the Middle East. Therefore, this study aimed to explore stroke survivors' perceptions and experiences of PSF and its causes, its impact on their daily life, their coping strategies, and support from physicians and caregivers in the context of Saudi Arabia. Patients and Methods: This qualitative interview study was conducted with eight post-stroke survivors from two tertiary stroke centers in Saudi Arabia. Results: The responses in the interviews showed high heterogeneity. From the responses, five main themes and several subthemes were generated: (1) description of PSF as both a physical and psychological experience; (2) perceived causes of PSF (physical causes, psychological causes, and stroke-related causes); (3) impact of PSF on daily life (activities of daily living and social interactions); (4) coping strategies for PSF (pacing, self-motivation, and social participation); and (5) perspectives about support from caregivers and healthcare practitioners (lack of support, provision of information about PSF and its management, physiotherapy interventions, encouragement, and overprotectiveness). Conclusion: Stroke survivors have variable physical and psychological experiences of PSF and variable perceptions of its causes and impact. High heterogeneity was also noted in the perception of support provided by healthcare providers and families or caregivers-ranging from lack of support to overprotection. Similarly, patients' perceptions of the role of physiotherapy and their attitude towards physiotherapy were also variable. Despite this, the findings do highlight the need for more individualized understanding of PSF and the development of treatment strategies that consider biological, psychological, and social factors.