Exercise therapy in medical rehabilitation: Study protocol of a national survey at facility and practitioner level with a mixed method design

Abstract

BackgroundThe importance of physical activity and the orientation of exercise therapy in rehabilitation has changed for many chronic health conditions. Exercise therapy is the most applied therapy form within multidisciplinary rehabilitation programs for almost all chronic health conditions. Despite the scientifically discussed need to refine exercise therapy, there is relatively little knowledge of how exercise therapy is actually conducted. This study protocol describes the methodological procedure used in the project “Exercise therapy in medical rehabilitation: a survey at facility and practitioner level”, which aims to take a national survey of exercise therapy in rehabilitation practice in Germany.MethodsThe project was implemented using an explanatory sequential mixed method design. Quantitative and qualitative methods were integrated in two consecutive project phases. Phase 1 used a standardized, quantitative written survey of the heads of exercise therapy departments to compile a national overview of concepts and process features of exercise therapy of individual rehabilitation facilities. Phase 2 recorded individual perspectives and opinions concerning exercise therapy goals, content and methods and current developments in the rehabilitation context (e.g., physical activity promotion, interdisciplinarity, standardization) of exercise therapy practitioners. Over the course of two one-and-a-half day workshops, central themes were introduced and prepared with standardized written individual surveys from Phase 1 and combined with qualitative surveys using facilitated group discussions (focus groups in mixed methods design).DiscussionThe project generates a comprehensive picture of exercise therapy in medical rehabilitation at facility level and inserts further information at the practitioner level into this context. The chosen methodology of a mixed method design combines the perspective of the facility with that of the practitioner, thus allowing for a complex and multifaceted description of the status quo in exercise therapy practice and makes it possible to identify facilitators and barriers for the refinement of exercise therapy in specific everyday rehabilitation. These findings form the basis for the systematic development of quality exercise therapy in rehabilitation, in particular in terms of the refinement, implementation and dissemination of biopsychosocial concepts of exercise therapy.

Physical activity promotion in daily exercise therapy: the perspectives of exercise therapists in German rehabilitation settings

“…We have based our reporting on the checklist of the consolidated criteria for reporting qualitative studies (COREQ) [24]. A detailed description of the project can be found in the study protocol by Geidl et al [25].…”

Physical activity promotion in daily exercise therapy: The perspectives of exercise therapists in German rehabilitation settings

“…This study uses data from the second qualitative phase of the project. A detailed description of the project can be found in the study protocol by Geidl et al [24].…”

Inhalte und Methoden der Bewegungsförderung in der Bewegungstherapie: Die Sichtweisen bewegungstherapeutischer Akteure in der medizinischen Rehabilitation

“…Eine umfassende Darstellung der gesamten Projektmethodik (Stichprobenauswahl und -charakteristika, Datenanalyse etc.) findet sich im Studienprotokoll [4] (weitere Informationen über das Projekt unter https://www.sport.fau.de/lehrstuehle-und-fachge biete/bewegung-und-gesundheit/forschungsprojekte/bewegthe reha/). Folgend werden relevante Methodenmerkmale kurz skizziert.…”