Application accuracy of the sleep decision tree to standardized patient cases by physiotherapists: An observational study.

Background: Physiotherapists assess lifestyle factors, including sleep health, that contribute to poor health outcomes. Recommendations of sleep screening assessments have been provided; however, physical therapists' ability to successfully identify which patients would benefit from additional consultation has not been established.

Objective: To determine if physiotherapists can accurately apply an evidence-based sleep decision tree to four hypothetical standardized patient cases.

Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Policy Regarding Supervised Exercise for Patients With Intermittent Claudication: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly.

On May 25, 2017, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) issued a decision memo establishing coverage for supervised exercise therapy (SET) for Medicare beneficiaries experiencing intermittent claudication due to peripheral artery disease (PAD). A meaningful impact on population health is possible with greater freedom to participate in regular physical activity. The authors of this editorial explain the potential roles of physical therapists in the SET program and argue for further integration of physical therapists through collaborative practice.

Patient age is related to the types of physical therapy interventions provided for chronic low back pain: an observational study.

Study Design: Retrospective analysis of a longitudinal cohort of patients treated for chronic low back pain (CLBP).

Objectives: To determine whether patient age is associated with types of physical therapy interventions received for CLBP.

Background: Advancing age is associated with less positive treatment outcomes in patients with CLBP.

Use of quality indicators in physical therapist practice: an observational study.

Background: The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010 contain provisions specific to health care quality that apply to physical therapists. Published evidence examining gaps in the quality of physical therapy services is limited.

Objective: The primary purpose of this study was to determine the use of quality indicators in physical therapist practice.

Academic difficulty and program-level variables predict performance on the National Physical Therapy Examination for licensure: a population-based cohort study.

Background: Several factors have been shown to influence first-time pass rates on the National Physical Therapy Examination (NPTE). It is unclear to what extent academic difficulty experienced by students in a physical therapist education program may affect NPTE pass rates. The effects of institutional status (public or private) and Carnegie Classification on NPTE pass rates also are unknown.

Interventions associated with an increased or decreased likelihood of pain reduction and improved function in patients with adhesive capsulitis: a retrospective cohort study.

Background And Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine whether physical therapy interventions predicted meaningful short-term improvement in 4 measures of physical health, pain, and function for patients diagnosed with adhesive capsulitis.

Participants: Data were examined from 2,370 patients (mean age=55.3 years, SD=12.

Use of demographic and quantitative admissions data to predict academic difficulty among professional physical therapist students.

Background And Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine whether admissions data could be used to estimate physical therapist students' risk for academic difficulty.

Subjects: A nationally representative sample of 20 physical therapist education programs provided data on 3,582 students.

Methods: Programs provided data regarding student demographic characteristics, undergraduate grade point average (uGPA), quantitative and verbal Graduate Record Examination scores (qGRE, vGRE), and academic difficulty.

Use of demographic and quantitative admissions data to predict performance on the national physical therapy examination.

Background And Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine whether admissions data could be used to estimate physical therapist student risk for failing the National Physical Therapy Examination (NPTE).

Subjects: A nationally representative sample of 20 physical therapist education programs provided data on 3,365 students.

Methods: Programs provided data regarding demographic characteristics, undergraduate grade point average (uGPA), and quantitative and verbal Graduate Record Examination scores (qGRE, vGRE).

Interventions that increase or decrease the likelihood of a meaningful improvement in physical health in patients with sciatica.

Background And Purpose: The purpose of our study was to determine whether physical therapy interventions predicted meaningful short-term improvement in physical health for patients diagnosed with sciatica.

Subjects: We examined data from 1,804 patients (age: mean=52.1 years, SD=15.

A method for predicting a student's risk for academic probation in a professional program in allied health.

Identification of students at risk for academic difficulty in a physical therapy program would provide opportunities to implement preemptive measures designed to enhance successful academic performance. The purpose of this study was to determine if a method advocated for use in evidence-based practice could be adapted for use in predicting probationary status for students in a program in allied health, specifically physical therapy. Preadmission combined math and science grade point average; cumulative grade point average (TGPA); verbal Graduate Record Examination score (VGRE), quantitative Graduate Record Examination score (QGRE), and analytic Graduate Record Examination score; and probation status were obtained for 305 students (mean age, 25.