PHYSICAL THERAPISTS PROVIDE PREVENTIVE CARE TO POPULATIONS WITH PATHOLOGY BUT LESS TO THOSE AT RISK. Catherine R. Thompson*; Milana Samardzija; Allison Epp Department of Physical Therapy Education, Rockhurst University, Kansas City, MO PURPOSE: This study examines the extent of preventive care provided by PTs in various practice settings as well as the relationship between prevention practice provided and the PT's education level, practice experience, or PT setting. BACKGROUNDS/SIGNIFICANCE: The scope of PT practice includes key roles in prevention and health promotion. While PT programs have integrated health promotion education into their curricula, there is little, if any, research identifying the extent to which PTs offer primary prevention (preventing disease and injury), secondary prevention (reducing duration, severity, and sequelae of disease), and tertiary prevention (limiting disability from chronic and irreversible disease.) SUBJECTS: Eighty-nine PTs (26M; 63F), 23 to 61 years of age, represented levels of PT education ranging from Bachelor's to Doctoral degrees, varying years of clinical practice, and various practice settings from all parts of the United States. METHODS AND MATERIALS: The IRB-approved survey ("PT's Role in Health Promotion and Preventive Care") was designed to identify demographic information as well as information about prevention practice offered by PTs. PT information included educational level, experience (yr), practice setting, and state of employment. Prevention practice questions identified the PT's self-perception of competency in promoting health, as well as the percentage of clients receiving primary, secondary, and tertiary prevention from PT. Types of media used for prevention practice as well as awareness of HEALTHY PEOPLE 2010 goals were also noted on the survey. Prior to distribution, all surveys were coded to maintain respondent confidentiality. Participants, sought at national PT meetings and student clinical affiliation sites, voluntarily completed the survey. ANALYSES: Data, based on visual analog scales and quantitative measures, were recorded and analyzed using SPSS 11.5 for Windows. Analyses included determining mean scores for the types and extent of preventive care provided. The mean scores for preventive care frequency were correlated with PT setting, experience (yr), and PT degree. The mean frequency scores for self-perceived competency in health promotion were also calculated. Frequency scores were used to examine types of health promotion media employed and awareness of HEALTHY PEOPLE 2010 goals. RESULTS: Results of this study indicate that self-perceived competency in promoting health did not differ based upon level of education, PT experience, or practice setting. The mean level of perceived health promotion competency for all PTs was 7.3 on a 1-10 scale (1 = incompetent to 10 = completely competent), ranging from 1.5 to 10. Fourteen of the 89 respondents reported "always" providing preventive care to their clients and only one responded "never" offering preventive care. PTs provided more secondary prevention (63.9%) and tertiary prevention (74.8%) than primary prevention (46.1%). While PT setting and years of practice resulted in no difference in frequency of preventive care provided, years of PT education was negatively correlated to the frequency of preventive care offered across all types of prevention practice (r = -.231, p = .029). Eleven percent of respondents used commercially-written media (APTA brochures, American Heart Association pamphlets, etc) and 46.1% used self- generated health education media; 11% used videotaped information and 85% used client consultation/verbal instruction. Of the 89 respondents 21 performed screening activities and 9 participated in fitness programs (Special Olympics, PACE - People with Arthritic Can Exercise, and "other" programs). Thirty-seven of the 89 respondents were unaware of HEALTHY PEOPLE 2010 goals. CONCLUSIONS: PTs are involved to a greater extent in secondary and tertiary prevention than primary prevention. While PT setting and years of practice did not influence the extent of preventive care offered to clients, level of PT education was negatively associated with frequency of prevention care offered. This finding warrants further study. PTs provide various types of prevention practice, but predominately patient consultation/education and self-generated materials for health promotion. The PT's scope of practice includes all levels of preventive care for clients across all practice settings. Additional studies are needed to identify the possible barriers to the provision of preventive care by PTs. Additionally, PTs need to be educated about HEALTHY PEOPLE 2010 to ensure continued participation in national health advocacy and health promotion. FUNDING SOURCE: None KEYWORDS: primary prevention, health education, prevention practice, Healthy People 2010 PT Education (number of respondents) PT Setting (number of respondents) Methods of Providing Preventive Care (number of respondents) Copyright 2009 by the American Physical Therapy Association. Requests for reprints should be directed to the corresponding author of the article. Educators, students, and other academic customers may receive permission to reprint copyrighted material from Physical Therapy (ISSN 1538-6724) by contacting the Copyright Clearance Center Inc, 222 Rosewood Dr, Danvers, MA 01923. Other types of customers who want permission to reprint should contact the APTA Editorial Office, Attn: Physical Therapy.