BackgroundEvidence-based practice (EBP) enhances healthcare services and keeps providers current with best practices. EBP has been adopted and spread worldwide. However, people will not apply it if they do not know, understand, or believe it. Few studies have considered EBP application in Viet Nam. This study explores whether Vietnamese physical therapists’ attitude, knowledge, skills toward EBP and barriers to its use make them ready to implement its practice.MethodsA survey questionnaire was sent directly to physical therapists in governmental healthcare organizations in Ho Chi Minh City, Viet Nam, from July to October, 2017. It consisted of 41 closed- and open-ended questions related to knowledge, attitude, behaviors, frequency of use, and barriers of EBP and the demographic characteristics of participants. Descriptive statistics and significant correlations were determined from Chi-Square statistics or odds ratios between the variables.ResultsThe return rate was 93% (421 out of 453). Eliminated were 40 responses inconsistent with inclusion criteria. The 381 eligible participants were more female (62%) than male, about 53% had vocational degrees, less than 1% had M.S. degrees. Participants reported a positive attitude toward EBP. An incongruity existed between knowledge/ skills of EBP and the frequency of using its 5 steps. English competence was the most critical barrier to applying EBP. The significant associations between attitude and knowledge, and demographical attributes indicated that younger therapists with lower educational degrees had less knowledge of EBP and they rarely employed the application and analytical steps 4 and 5.ConclusionsThe incongruity between knowledge and use of EBP may result from the lack of EBP in academic education. The skills of reading professional articles in the English language and understanding and applying the steps of EBP should be emphasized in academic physical therapy programs. Additionally, policy makers should consider the number of patients a day per physical therapist which impacts EBP use and the quality of healthcare service.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (10.1186/s12909-018-1428-3) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Background: Studies have reported the subtypes of individuals with knee osteoarthritis (OA) attempting to cluster this heterogonous condition. Activity limitations are commonly used to set goals in knee OA management and better identify subgroups based on level of disability in this patient population. Therefore, the objective of this study was to identify those activity limitations which could classify the disability phenotypes of knee OA. The phenotypes were also validated by comparing impairments and participation restrictions. Methods: Participants comprised individuals with symptomatic knee OA. They were interviewed and undertook physical examination according to a standard evaluation forms based on the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) model. Cluster analysis was used to determine those activity limitations which could best classify the phenotypes of knee OA. To validate the clustered variables, comparisons and regression analysis were performed for the impairments consisting of pain intensity, passive range of motion and muscle strength, and the participation restrictions included the difficulty level of acquiring goods and services and community life. Results: In all, 250 participants with symptomatic knee OA were enrolled in the study. Three activity limitations identified from data distribution and literature were used as the cluster variables, included the difficulty level of maintaining a standing position, timed stair climbing and 40-m self-paced walk test. The analysis showed four phenotypes of individuals with knee OA according to the levels of disability from no to severe level of disability. All parameters of impairment and participation restrictions significantly differed among phenotypes. Subgroups with greater disability experienced worse pain intensity, limited range of motion (ROM), muscle power and participation restriction levels. The variance accounted for of the subgroups were also greater than overall participants. Conclusion: The results of this study emphasized the heterogeneous natures of knee OA. Three activity limitations identified could classify the individuals with symptomatic knee OA to homogeneous subgroups from no to severe level of disability. The management plan, based on these homogeneous subgroups of knee OA, could be designated by considering the levels of impairments and participation restrictions.

ObjectivesTo estimate health expectancies based on measures that more fully cover the stages in the disablement process for the older Thais and examine gender differences in these health expectancies.MethodsHealth expectancies by genders using Sullivan’s method were computed from the fourth Thai National Health Examination Survey conducted in 2009. A total of 9,210 participants aged 60 years and older were included in the analysis. Health measures included chronic diseases; cognitive impairment; depression; disability in instrumental activities of daily living (IADL); and disability in activities of daily living (ADL).ResultsThe average number of years lived with and without morbidity and disability as measured by multiple dimensions of health varied and gender differences were not consistent across measures. At age 60, males could expect to live the most years on average free of depression (18.6 years) and ADL disability (18.6 years) and the least years free of chronic diseases (9.1 years). Females, on the contrary, could expect to live the most years free of ADL disability (21.7 years) and the least years free of IADL disability (8.1 years), and they consistently spent more years with all forms of morbidity and disability. Finally, and for both genders, years lived with cognitive impairment, depression and ADL disability were almost constant with increasing age.ConclusionThis study adds knowledge of gender differences in healthy life expectancy in the older Thai population using a wider spectrum of health which provides useful information to diverse policy audiences.

ObjectivesTo examine gender and regional differences in health expectancies based on the measure of mobility.MethodsHealth expectancies by gender and region were computed by Sullivan’s method from the fourth Thai National Health Examination Survey (2009). A total of 9,210 older persons aged 60 years and older were included. Mobility limitation was defined as self-reporting of ability to perform only with assistances/aids at least one of: walking at least 400 metres; or going up or down a flight of 10 stairs. Severe limitation was defined as complete inability to do at least one of these two functions, even with assistances or aids.ResultsAt age 60, females compared to males, spent significantly fewer years without mobility limitation (male-female = 3.2 years) and more years with any limitation (female-male = 6.7 years) and with severe limitation (female-male = 3.2 years). For both genders, years lived with severe limitation were remarkably constant across age. Significant regional inequalities in years lived without and with limitation were evident, with a consistent pattern by gender in years free of mobility limitation (Central ranked the best and the North East ranked the worst). Finally, both males and females in the South had the longest life expectancy and the most years of life with severe mobility limitation.ConclusionThis study identifies inequalities in years without and with mobility limitations with important policy implication.

Neck pain is one of main health problems of office workers. They work with computers in the same position for long period of time. Previous studies show the prevalence of neck pain (45.5%) in office workers. This can lead to direct and indirect costs of health care. It is essential to develop predictors for preventing people from neck pain. Previous studies show that musculoskeletal disorders are related to physical fitness level. Many factors in physical fitness can predict the incident of musculoskeletal disorders.There is still few studies which are specific to neck pain and physical fitness. Therefore, the purpose of the study was to investigate the relation between physical fitness level and prevalence of neck pain in office workers. A preliminary cross-sectional survey study included office workers who work in Faculty of physical therapy, Mahidol University. Participants were advertised with information and advantages of the study. The total of participants in this study were 18 office workers (10 females and 8 males). The test-retest reliability (ICC) of physical fitness tests were between 0.52-0.99. Physical fitness of participants were measured in five domains including 1) range of motion, 2) neck endurance, 3) strengthening of deep neck flexor muscle, 4) grip strength and 5) cardiorespiratory fitness by using cervical range of motion goniometer, neck flexor endurance test, neck flexor strength test by a pressure biofeedback, a hand grip dynamometer and three minutes step test, respectively. Compared the results which norms, subjects can be classified into normal group and below normal group. The Thai version of the modified neck disability index was used for examine the prevalence of neck pain. The neck disability scores were calculated, participants with the score more than 20% of full score were included in neck pain group. Statistic analysis analyzed by SPSS version 20.0. Intraclass correlation coefficient was calculated for testretest reliability. Descriptive statistics showed that neck strength, neck endurance, cardiorespiratory fitness and range of neck flexion in participants with normal physical fitness level tend to have less prevalence of neck pain than that of participants with below normal physical fitness level.