Open AccessPrimary care referral for exercise evaluation and prescription in obese populations
Author(s) -
David Brock W
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
advances in obesity, weight management and control
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
ISSN - 2378-3168
DOI - 10.15406/aowmc.2015.02.00007
Subject(s) - medicine , referral , competence (human resources) , medicaid , reimbursement , medical prescription , exercise prescription , likert scale , physical therapy , family medicine , population , gerontology , health care , nursing , psychology , social psychology , developmental psychology , environmental health , economics , economic growth
Background: The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services approved primary care setting reimbursement for diet and exercise interventions for individuals with BMIs>30kg/m2. As the obese population often presents with co-morbidities, exercise evaluation and prescription warrants special consideration. Two allied health professions are cited as potential providers: Exercise Physiologists (EP) and Physical Therapists (PT). Methods: Thirteen KSAs for exercise evaluation and prescription in obesity and metabolic disease domains were selected from the American College of Sports Medicine’s published guidelines. The questionnaire was delivered to 411 EPs and 673 PTs. Participants were asked to self-rate competence on a 6-point Likert scale (1=not competent, 6=very competent). Results: Statistically significant differences were observed for summed self-rated competence (EP=5.37+0.52; PT=3.42+1.07; P<0.001), and across each KSA, with EPs reporting higher competence for all 13 KSAs (EP min=4.78+1.34, max=5.85+0.41; PT min=1.84+1.37, max=4.87+1.36; P<0.01). Conclusion: Exercise physiologists self-rate as “competent”; whereas, physical therapists self rate as “moderately competent” in areas related to energy expenditure and “not competent” in critical areas germane to safety.