THE USE OF OUTCOME MEASURES IN EXERCISE PHYSIOLOGY CLINICAL PRACTICE IN AUSTRALIA

INTRODUCTION AND AIMS Outcome measure (OM) implementation in clinical settings has become a standard in allied health evidence-based practice over the last 20 years, with their use being encouraged by governing and funding bodies. This study investigated the application of standardised OMs by accredited exercise physiologists (AEPs) in Australia. This study aimed to identify commonly used OMs and explore the barriers and facilitators to OM implementation in AEP clinical practice in Australia. METHODS This study utilised a questionnaire-based, cross-sectional, descriptive design to determine the OMs used by AEPs in current clinical practice and investigated trends related to OM use within different AEP demographics and settings. Participants were also asked to identify any barriers and facilitators that affected their use of OMs in clinical practice. The OMs that were most frequently used were identified and the results analysed according to demographic variables, to determine how they influenced OM use in clinical practice. RESULTS Eighty-seven OMs were assessed, with 41% ‘never’ used by most participants. A further 48% of the OMs were identified as being underutilised with over 50% of respondents selecting ‘never’ or ‘sometimes’. Only three OMs were used frequently by most respondents. The most common barriers to OM use identified related to a lack of time, knowledge, and limited perceived value from clinicians. These reflect the barriers identified in prior research related to other allied health professions. CONCLUSIONS AEPs in Australia experience many of the same barriers to OM use as other allied health disciplines. Currently, the standardised OM resource for AEPs is outdated and underutilised in clinical practice. Updated resources for clinicians in the form of educational seminars and a searchable online database with easy access to evidence-based outcome measures are essential to the promotion of OMs to support evidence-based practice for AEPs.