KNOWLEDGE, ATTITUDE AND PRACTICE OF PRINCIPLES OF EXERCISE PRESCRIPTION AMONG PHYSIOTHERAPISTS IN NIGERIA.

OKAFOR UAC, AWETO HA, ADEWOLE HA

Physiotherapy Department, College of Medicine of the University of Lagos

                                              Correspondence: Okafor UAC

                                              Email- uacokafor@cmul.edu.ng

ABSTRACT

Background: Exercise prescription is a major tool in the physiotherapist's repertoire of treatment techniques. Whereas a significant growth has been associated with the awareness and acceptability of physiotherapy techniques and practice in the past few decades, so little is reported in the literature about the knowledge, attitude and practice of the principles of exercise prescription among physiotherapists in Nigeria.

Objective: This study was aimed at assessing the knowledge, attitude and practice of the principles of exercise prescription among physiotherapists in Nigeria.

Method: A total of 300 practicing physiotherapists in Nigeria participated in the study. They were required to complete a 31-item questionnaire which collected information on socio-demographic data, knowledge, attitude and practice of the principles of exercise prescription. Data was represented using pie charts, frequency and percentages while Chi-Square was used to determine the relationship between knowledge of exercise prescription and years of practice as well level of education of the respondents.

Result: 94 percent of the respondents have good knowledge whereas 84.5 percent have good practice of exercise prescription as typified in their responses on the questionnaire. This shows a high level of knowledge and practice of the respondents towards exercise prescription. Their attitude towards exercise prescription was also found to be good as indicated by 87.5 percent of the respondents. No significant relationship was found between the level of education and knowledge of exercise prescription among Physiotherapists in Nigeria. There was also no significant relationship between their years of practice experience and knowledge of exercise prescription. Level of significance was set at p< 0.05.

Conclusion: Majority of physiotherapists in Nigeria have a good knowledge, attitude and practice of the principles of exercise prescription.

Keywords: Exercise prescription, Knowledge, Attitude, Practice, Physiotherapist, Nigeria