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Background: Despite recognition of the need to embed patient safety within undergraduate healthcare education, there are limited examples of how this has been achieved within physiotherapy. The purpose of this regional initiative was to develop a course and teaching resources to support Higher Education Institutions in the United Kingdom (UK) when embedding the World Health Organization (WHO) multiprofessional patient safety curriculum into undergraduate healthcare education. Objectives: In this pilot study, researchers assessed the impact of the interprofessional simulation-based education (IPSE) course on students' perceptions of interprofessional learning and patient safety postcourse, and explored the participants' perceived application of knowledge and skills 3 months later. Methods: A sequential mixed-methods evaluation was conducted, including pre-and post-course Readiness for Interprofessional Learning Scale (RIPLS) questionnaires and two course evaluation questionnaires featuring open and closed items (administered immediately post-course and 3 months later). Participants included undergraduate physiotherapy, medical, nursing, and pharmacy students. Results: The IPSE course enabled students to develop an appreciation of each other's professional roles and particularly their individual and collaborative practices that may positively impact upon patient safety. Postcourse students reported being able to influence patient safety through an increased application of their ability to identify errors and influence their colleagues' practices, thus impacting directly upon patient safety. Conclusion: This paper provides an evaluation of an innovative method of providing interprofessional patient safety learning and teaching opportunities within undergraduate healthcare curricula.

Background Personal activity intelligence (PAI) is a single physical activity metric based upon heart rate responses to physical activity. Maintaining 100 PAI/week is associated with a 25% risk reduction in cardiovascular disease mortality and 50 PAI/week provides 60% of the benefits. The effect of utilising this metric within a cardiac population has not been previously investigated. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of PAI monitoring on the amount and/or intensity of physical activity for people in the maintenance phase of cardiac rehabilitation and to explore participants’ perceptions of this approach. Methods A concurrent mixed methods approach was undertaken. Participants in the maintenance phase of cardiac rehabilitation monitored PAI for six weeks via a wearable physical activity monitoring device (WPAM). In the first three weeks participants were blinded to their PAI score. A quality-of-life questionnaire (EQ-5D-5L) was completed, and semi-structured interviews conducted to investigate attitudes to PAI monitoring. Daily PAI data was collected throughout the 6-week period. Results Twenty participants completed the trial. PAI earned/day was increased after participants could view their data (mean difference: 2.1 PAI/day (95% CI 0.3, 4.0), p = 0.027). The median change in percentage of days participants achieved a Total PAI score of 25 (p = 0.023) and 50 (p = 0.015) were also increased. The mean change in total scores for the EQ-5D-5L and EQVAS were improved after 6 weeks (0.6 ± 1.05; 95% CI (0.11–1.09); p = 0.019); (5.8/100; 95% CI (2.4–9.2); p = 0.002 respectively). Thematic framework analysis identified three global themes (perceptions on the WPAM, PAI and factors affecting exercise). Most participants stated motivation to exercise increased after they could view their PAI data. Many of the participants believed they would continue to use PAI long-term. Others were undecided; the latter primarily due to technical issues and/or preferring devices with greater functionality and attractiveness. All participants would recommend PAI. Conclusion This exploratory study showed monitoring PAI via a WPAM increased the amount and/or intensity of physical activity within the cardiac population. Participants found PAI interesting, beneficial, and motivating. If technical issues, aesthetics, and functionality of the WPAM were improved, participants may continue to use the approach long-term. PAI may be a viable strategy to assist people with cardiac disease maintain physical activity adherence.

Background Respiratory diseases impose an immense health burden worldwide and affect millions of people on a global scale. Reduction of exercise tolerance poses a huge health issue affecting patients with a respiratory condition, which is caused by skeletal muscle dysfunction and weakness and by lung function impairment. Virtual reality systems are emerging technologies that have drawn scientists’ attention to its potential benefit for rehabilitation. Methods A systematic review and meta-analysis following the PRISMA guidelines was performed to explore the effectiveness of virtual reality gaming and exergaming-based interventions on individuals with respiratory conditions. Results Differences between the virtual reality intervention and traditional exercise rehabilitation revealed weak to insignificant effect size for mean heart rate (standardized mean difference, SMD = 0.17; p = 0.002), peak heart rate (SMD = 0.36; p = 0.27), dyspnea (SMD = 0.32; p = 0.13), and oxygen saturation SpO2 (SMD = 0.26; p = 0.096). In addition, other measures were collected, however, to the heterogeneity of reporting, could not be included in the meta-analysis. These included adherence, enjoyment, and drop-out rates. Conclusions The use of VRS as an intervention can provide options for rehabilitation, given their moderate effect for dyspnea and equivalent to weak effect for mean and maximum peak HR and SpO2. However, the use of virtual reality systems, as an intervention, needs further study since the literature lacks standardized methods to accurately analyze the effects of virtual reality for individuals with respiratory conditions, especially for duration, virtual reality system type, adherence, adverse effects, feasibility, enjoyment, and quality of life.

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