The feasibility and acceptability of a falls prevention e-learning program for physiotherapists

ABSTRACT

Objective

To examine the feasibility and acceptability of a falls prevention e-learning program for physiotherapists working with people with osteoarthritis (OA).

Methods

A prospective pre-post quasi-experimental approach was adopted. An e-learning program on falls prevention specific to the OA population was developed and delivered. Feasibility and acceptability data were obtained from recruitment records, Moodle^TM activity logs, multiple choice quizzes and customized surveys.

Results

Of the 65 physiotherapists and near-graduate physiotherapy students who met the eligibility criteria, 50 (77%) completed the e-learning program. Participants were satisfied and considered the program to be acceptable. The program met their expectations (n = 45; 90%) and was highly relevant to their work (median 8–10 [interquartile range (IQR)] 2; range 0 [not at all relevant] to 10 [extremely relevant]). An overall improvement in knowledge was also observed (mean percentage difference 8%; 95% CI −3.49, −1.27).

Discussion

Given a heightened risk of falls among people with OA, ensuring physiotherapists are skilled in falls prevention is important. Our acceptability and outcomes data indicate that a falls prevention e-learning program can be feasibly delivered to physiotherapists working in OA care. Future research should assess subsequent changes in clinical practice to determine whether physiotherapists deliver care reflective of contemporary falls prevention evidence.

KEYWORDS:

• Education
• e-learning
• falls
• osteoarthritis

Acknowledgments

The authors wish to thank the participants for contributing their time towards this pilot e-learning program as well as those who assisted with testing the e-learning program (Jason Wallis, Udari Colombage, Melanie Haley, Eliza Bradley, Melissa Raymond). This work was supported by the Pat Cosh Trust. The Pat Cosh Trust was established in 2010 with funds bequeathed by the former Physiotherapy Board of Victoria for the purpose of advancing education of all Victorian physiotherapists. The funder had no role in the study design, execution, analyses or interpretation, or the decision to submit results. A/Pof is supported by a Victorian Health and Medical Research Fellowship awarded by the Victorian Government.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Supplementary material

Supplemental data for this article can be accessed on the publisher’s website