Physiotherapists’ Attitudes, and Barriers of Delivering Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation for Patients with Heart Failure in Saudi Arabia: A Cross-Sectional Study

Figures & data

Table 1 Demographic Data and Characteristics of All Physiotherapists (N= 553)

Demographic Variables	Frequency (%)
Gender
Male	289 (52.30%)
Female	264 (47.70%)
Geographic Location
Western region	204 (37%)
Central region	160 (29%)
Eastern region	100 (18%)
Southern region	56 (10%)
Northern region	33 (6%)
Year of experience with heart failure patients
< 1 year	25 (4.50%)
1–2 years	68 (12.30%)
3–4 years	71 (12.80%)
5–6 years	92 (16.60%)
7–8 years	126 (22.80%)
9–10 years	77 (13.90%)
>10 years	94 (17%)
Responsibilities for care with heart failure patients
Outpatient clinics	367 (66.40%)
In-patient treatment	323 (58.40%)
Ongoing Management	214 (38.70%)
Primary care	177 (32%)
Oxygen Therapy	147 (26.60%)
Non-urgent Care	85 (15.40%)
Diagnosis	70 (12.70%)
Admission Prevention	67 (12.10%)
Urgent Assessments	56 (10.10%)
Medication Check	48 (8.70%)
Prescribing	20 (3.60%)
Others	7 (1.30%)

Note: Data are presented as frequencies and percentages.

Table 2 Perception on Referring Patients with Heart Failure to Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation (N= 553)

Item	Frequency (%)
Perception on referring HF patients to CR
I believe CR will improve patients’ physical fitness
Strongly agree	360 (65.10%)
Agree	149 (26.90%)
Neutral	30 (5.40%)
Disagree	1 (0.20%)
Strongly disagree	13 (2.40%)
I believe CR will reduce patients’ breathlessness
Strongly agree	334 (60.40%)
Agree	162 (29.30%)
Neutral	37 (6.70%)
Disagree	3 (0.50%)
Strongly disagree	17 (3.10%)
I believe CR will improve patients’ palpitation and fatigue
Strongly agree	321 (58%)
Agree	154 (27.80%)
Neutral	54 (9.80%)
Disagree	7 (1.30%)
Strongly disagree	17 (3.10%)
I believe CR will improve patients’ ability to perform daily actives
Strongly agree	349 (63.10%)
Agree	149 (26.90%)
Neutral	39 (7.10%)
Disagree	2 (0.40%)
Strongly disagree	14 (2.50%)
I believe CR will reduce hospital readmission
Strongly agree	245 (44.30%)
Agree	152 (27.50%)
Neutral	77 (13.90%)
Disagree	20 (3.60%)
Strongly disagree	59 (10.70%)

Note: Data are presented as frequencies and percentages.

Abbreviations: HF, heart failure; CR, cardiopulmonary rehabilitation.

Table 3 Mode of Delivery and Component of Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation (N= 553)

Item	Frequency (%)
The best way to deliver CR program for HF patients
In hospital supervised program.	499 (90.20%)
At home.	248 (44.80%)
Tailored program with HCP support through phone.	222 (40.10%)
Online program with healthcare provider support.	205 (37.10%)
Rank of additional Component of CR program aside from exercise component
Stress management.	455 (82.30%)
Symptoms management.	435 (78.70%)
Weight management.	430 (77.80%)
Smoking cessation.	364 (65.80%)
Information about heart failure disease.	258 (46.70%)
Information about medications.	215 (38.90%)

Note: Data are presented as frequencies and percentages.

Abbreviations: HF, heart failure; CR, cardiopulmonary rehabilitation; HCP, healthcare provider.

Figure 1 Patient-related factors that influence referral decision to cardiopulmonary rehabilitation, using strong, some or no influence as a grading tool (n=553).

Figure 2 Barriers of not referring patients with Heart Failure to cardiopulmonary rehabilitation, using influence graded as no, some or strong influence (n=553).