How physiotherapists perceive,interpret, and respond to the ethical dimensions of practice: A qualitative study

The profile and reach of physiotherapy has expanded in areas of extended scope of practice, and broader engagement with population needs beyond the individual treatment encounter. These changes raise increasingly complex ethical challenges evidenced by growth in physiotherapy-based ethics studies and discussions. This paper examines how a broad cross section of Australian physiotherapists perceive, interpret, and respond to ethical challenges in their work contexts and how professional codes of conduct are used in their practice. Using an interpretive qualitative methodology, purposive sampling of 88 members of national clinical special interest groups were recruited for focus group discussions. Narrative-based and thematic data analysis identified ethical challenges as emerging from specific clinical contexts, and influenced by health organizations, funding policies, workplace relationships, and individually held perspectives. Five themes were developed to represent these findings: (1) the working environment, (2) balancing diverse needs and expectation, (3) defining ethics, (4) striving to act ethically, and (5) talking about ethics. The results portray a diverse and complex ethical landscape where therapists encounter and grapple with ethical questions emerging from the impact of funding models and policies affecting clinical work, expanding boundaries and scope of practice and changing professional roles and relationships. Codes of conduct were described as foundational ethical knowledge but not always helpful for “in the moment” ethical decision-making. Based on this research, we suggest how codes of conduct, educators, and professional associations could cultivate and nurture ethics capability in physiotherapy practitioners for these contemporary challenges.     

Leptin, lipid and lipid metabolism-related hormones in chronic renal failure in Arabia

SUMMARY: In patients with chronic renal failure (CRF), hyperleptinaemia has been widely reported, but the exact mechanisms leading to elevated leptin levels are unclear. Impaired renal clearance of leptin and the influence of other hormones may be important. In this study, we measured serum leptin levels in 150 patients on haemodialysis, peritoneal dialysis or in the predialysis phase of CRF. Furthermore, we measured plasma levels of insulin, growth hormone (GH) and insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1), as well as plasma levels of triacylglycerols and total low density lipoprotein (LDL)- and high density lipoprotein (HDL)-cholesterol. We observed significantly elevated levels of leptin, particularly in female patients, and leptin was shown to correlate significantly with insulin, total and LDL-cholesterol and log triacylglycerols. Leptin was inversely correlated with GH concentrations, but was not correlated with IGF-1 levels. Despite the multiple correlations established between leptin levels and other variables, only hyperinsulinaemia in CRF seems to be important as a determinator of leptin levels.     

Multi-detector CT angiography for lower gastrointestinal bleeding: Can it select patients for endovascular intervention?

This is a retrospective review of the results at our institution of using multi-detector CT angiography (CTA) to localise lower gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding. We hypothesised that in our patient population: (i) CTA was unlikely to demonstrate bleeding in patients who were haemodynamically stable; (ii) in haemodynamically unstable patients in whom CTA was undertaken, the results could be used to select patients who would benefit from catheter angiography; and (iii) in haemodynamically unstable patients in whom CTA was undertaken, a subgroup of patients could be identified who would benefit from primary surgical treatment, avoiding invasive angiography completely. A retrospective review was conducted of the clinical records of all patients undergoing CTA for lower GI haemorrhage at our institution between 1 January 2005 and 30 June 2007. Out of the 20 patients examined, 10 had positive CTAs demonstrating the bleeding site. Nine were haemodynamically unstable at the time of the study. Four patients with positive CT angiograms were able to be treated directly with surgery and avoided invasive angiography. Ten patients had negative CTAs. Four of these were haemodynamically unstable, six haemodynamically stable. Only one required intervention to secure haemostasis, the rest stopped spontaneously. No haemodynamically stable patient who had a negative CTA required intervention. CTA is a useful non-invasive technique for localising the site of lower GI bleeding. In our patient population, in the absence of haemodynamic instability, the diagnostic yield of CTA was low and bleeding was likely to stop spontaneously. In haemodynamically unstable patients, a positive CTA allowed patients to be triaged to surgery or angiography, whereas there was a strong association between a negative CTA and spontaneous cessation of bleeding.     

Physical Therapy and Complementary and Alternative Medicine: An Educational Tool for Enhancing Integration

In an outpatient rehabilitation setting, both patients’ use and therapists’ knowledge of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) varies widely. Based on this observation and a recognition of CAM as an emerging practice area for rehabilitation professionals, it was felt that a thorough and consistent approach to the education and orientation of physical therapists to the world of CAM and integrative care was needed. This special interest paper will describe one center’s approach, development, and use of a unique and comprehensive training manual designed to provide both a structured and standardized approach for educating physical therapists about CAM and related therapeutic modalities. This innovative teaching tool allows for multiple methods of content delivery within a multidisciplinary format and can be used for those who practice currently or desire to practice in an integrative care environment.     

Evaluation of clinical outcomes in anterior cruciate ligament surgery

Clinical outcomes data can be used to facilitate patient management decisions, assess clinician and organizational performance, and to provide evidence for the effectiveness of surgery and rehabilitation. The validity of the inferences made from outcomes data are dependent on the validity of the outcomes measures themselves and the circumstances under which the data were collected, analyzed, and interpreted. Clinical outcomes may include measures of impairment of body structure and function, activity limitation, and participation restriction. However, because the relationship between impairment and the resulting activity limitation and participation restriction is not direct, and because activity limitations and participation restrictions are of the utmost concern to the athlete, the primary clinical outcome should be measures of activity limitation and participation restriction. Activity limitation and participation restriction may be measured either through direct observation of performance or by general or specific measures of health related quality of life. Clinical outcomes data must be collected systematically to ensure valid inferences from the data.     

Nonoperative treatment ofacromioclavicular joint injuries

Nonoperative treatment is generally the choice for Type I and II acromioclavicular (AC) joint injuries. The situation issomewhat more controversial when Type III AC dislocations are considered, particularly with respect to athletes and heavy laborers. A number of recent studies have supported conservative treatment in these groups. There is general consensus as to the need for surgical intervention for Type IV, V, and VI AC injuries. Integral to any form of management, nonoperative or operative, is a rehabilitation program that addresses range of motion, strength, and neuromuscular control. We describe our program, which is divided into four phases: (1) Pain control and immediate protected range of motion and isometric exercises; (2) strengthening exercises using isotonic contractions and proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF) exercises; (3) Unrestricted functional participation with the goal of increasing strength, power, endurance, and neuromuscular control; and (4) return to activity with sport specific functional drills. An athlete is ready to return to competitive sports once the following criteria are met: full range of motion (ROM), no pain or tenderness, satisfactory clinical exam, and demonstration of adequate strength on isokinetic testing. The unique considerations in a throwing athlete with an AC injury are also addressed. The primary goal of the nonoperative treatment protocol is to return the athlete to full activities as quickly and as safely as possible.     

Spontaneous firing level distinguishes the effects of NMDA and non-NMDA receptor antagonists on the ganglion cells in the cat retina.

Different responses of retinal ganglion cells to iontophoretically applied NMDA receptor antagonists and non-NMDA receptor antagonists were studied in anaesthetized cats. Cells with normal range of spontaneous firing and those with abnormally high spontaneous firing levels showed a different response to these drugs. Both visually driven and spontaneous firing of cells with 'normal' spontaneous firing level were blocked by non-NMDA receptor antagonists, but not by NMDA receptor antagonists which often raised spontaneous firing. In contrast, the responses of cells with abnormally high spontaneous firing level were blocked effectively by NMDA antagonists including MK-801, an NMDA channel blocker, as well as by non-NMDA receptor antagonists. The results suggest that under normal physiological conditions, NMDA receptors which are not involved in synaptic transmission may play a role in reducing the resting discharge level of the retinal ganglion cells. NMDA receptors, however, appear to open ion channels in response to glutamate input when ganglion cells become abnormally depolarized.