Home Health Physical Therapists' Perceptions Regarding the Utilization of the CDC STEADI Initiative

Area of Science:

• Geriatric physical therapy
• Fall prevention strategies
• Public health initiatives

Background:

• Falls represent the primary cause of injury among older adults, posing a significant preventable health concern.
• A notable gap exists in standardized fall risk assessment guidelines within the physical therapy profession.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate home health physical therapists' (PTs) perspectives on fall risk assessment.
• To evaluate PTs' awareness, comfort levels, utilization, educational background, and interest in the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) STEADI (Stopping Elderly Accidents, Deaths, and Injuries) initiative.

Main Methods:

• A survey comprising 27 questions was administered to home health physical therapists.
• Data from 131 respondents were analyzed to understand their views on fall risk assessment and the CDC STEADI initiative.

Main Results:

• A significant majority (84.7%) of respondents recognized the importance of fall risk assessment across all patient settings and diagnoses.
• Less than half of the surveyed PTs (48.1%) were aware of the CDC STEADI initiative.
• Only 36.0% of respondents reported receiving education on the CDC STEADI initiative during their physical therapy program.
• A high level of interest (92.1%) was reported by respondents regarding the utilization of the CDC STEADI initiative.

Conclusions:

• The CDC STEADI initiative appears to be underutilized in home health settings.
• Barriers to its adoption may include limited awareness, comfort, and formal education among physical therapists.
• Further dissemination and training efforts are needed to promote the use of the CDC STEADI initiative in home health physical therapy.