https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/52014 2026-04-15T10:27:11Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/52978 Title: The perception of the physiotherapy service within the emergency department at Mater Dei hospital, amongst emergency physicians Abstract: Emergency Departments are busy environments where rapid clinical decision making undertaken by skilled healthcare and medical professionals is required in order to provide quality care to patients in crisis. These departments face human, infrastructural and financial constraints and in response to this situation, physiotherapists are increasingly being required to form part of the respective multidisciplinary teams, lending their expertise to provide assessment and management of patients requiring emergency intervention. The success of any Emergency Department physiotherapy service hinges on the creation of strong interdisciplinary collaboration. Knowledge of the perception of the Emergency Department physicians is necessary in fostering such interdisciplinary collaboration, given that they are gatekeepers to healthcare in such an environment. The objectives of the study was to investigate, through a self-designed written questionnaire, involving numerical and Likert-type questions, what the Emergency Department physicians at Mater Dei Hospital, in Malta, think of the physiotherapy service in terms of its impact on the operation of the Emergency Department and its accomplishments, as well as investigating use of the referral system, the perceived efficiency of the service and, the perception of the competencies and capabilities of the Emergency Department physiotherapists. It was also the intention of the study to identify any possible improvements of the physiotherapy service from the Emergency Department physicians’ perspective. The relevant survey was carried out during the month of July 2018, and involved 58 respondents out of a total of 73 Emergency Department physicians at Mater Dei Hospital; a sample representing 79.5% of the total relevant population. Following data collection, statistical analysis showed that when asked about the importance of Emergency Department physiotherapy in their personal work, the ease of use of the service and the need for further interdisciplinary collaboration, responses varied significantly amongst the respondents i.e. Emergency Department physicians holding various appointments/positions. The study revealed that while the Emergency Department physiotherapy service is viewed as an important part of the functioning of the Emergency Department, addresses patients’ needs, relieves work pressure and is a beneficial addition to the patient care pathway, as well as the healthcare system in general, the Emergency Department physiotherapy referral form can afford to be more physician-friendly and easier to use, with greater flexibility, and needs to be more concise. The Emergency Department physicians agree that this can be achieved through further interdisciplinary collaboration between them and the Emergency Department physiotherapists, and that expansion of the service in terms of the time during which the service is offered and the number of Emergency Department physiotherapists available during any one time, is merited. Description: B.SC.(HONS)PHYSIOTHERAPY 2019-01-01T00:00:00Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/52952 Title: Self-management of oncology-related lymphoedema : patients’ perceptions and compliance Abstract: The aim of this research is to investigate the patients’ perception and compliance towards self-management of oncology related lymphoedema. Lymphoedema following breast cancer treatment is a debilitating chronic condition. With an increase in breast cancer incidence and improved survival rates, research about the long-term management of oncology-related lymphoedema is crucial to support a good Quality of Life (QOL). Management of oncology- related lymphoedema is divided into two phases. The first phase is the intensive phase known as Complete Decongestive Therapy (CDT) followed by the second phase which puts emphasis on self-management of this condition. Lymphoedema patients attending the lymphoedema clinic at Sir Anthony Mamo Oncology Centre (SAMOC) and who have completed at least one course of CDT, were recruited in this study. This research adopted a qualitative approach using one-to-one, in-depth interviews. Findings were analysed using the thematic analysis approach. The results obtained indicate that the level of adherence varied between different activities of the self-management programme. The highest level of adherence was recorded towards skin care (66.7%), while the lowest level of adherence was recorded towards upper-limb exercises (44.4%). Findings from this research suggest that the patients’ perceived barriers towards self-management of lymphoedema decreases the overall adherence. The three main barriers include personal, social and healthcare factors. Information gathered through this research including the patients’ overall adherence and the patients’ perceived barriers could shed more light on the importance of continuous support in managing long-term and chronic conditions. The suggestions put forward from this research study aim to lower the patients’ risk of developing complications to the lymphoedematous limb and ultimately to decrease the demand of oncology-related lymphoedema on the healthcare services. Description: B.SC.(HONS)PHYSIOTHERAPY 2019-01-01T00:00:00Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/52950 Title: Changes in foot clearance patterns with functional electrical stimulation (FES) and ankle foot orthosis (AFO) in the presence of foot drop post-stroke Abstract: Introduction: Foot drop post-stroke is a significant precursor to falls to which is a substantial influencer in the quality of life. This study set out to compare any immediate changes in spatiotemporal and kinematic foot clearance patterns that occur with the use of Functional Electrical Stimulation (FES) and Ankle Foot Orthosis (AFO) in the presence of foot drop post-stroke. Methodology and design: This research adopted a case study research design. A patient, who experienced a stroke was chosen and monitored at a self-selected walking speed with a motion capture system using a Helen Hayes marker set-up without any aid, with an AFO and with FES (Bioness® L300) in the same session respectively, wearing own footwear. A Timed Up and Go (TUG) test was carried out to assess the risk of falls in all the three walking trials. Data Analysis: The analysis was carried out by recording spatiotemporal values for the whole gait cycle, and kinematic data measured throughout the whole gait cycle and peak angles where interpreted for the three modalities under assessment. Recording of the TUG test after every successful set of walks in seconds for every modality was carried out, and data was then extrapolated in MS Excel™ for analysis and compared in a same subject design method. Results/conclusion: The results obtained showed inconclusive spatiotemporal values with minimal difference between AFO and FES modalities, such as 95.0 ± 2.25 steps/min to 97.6 ± 4.30 steps/min for cadence and 0.66 ± 0.051 m/s to 0.62 ± 0.032 m/s for walking speed respectively. Although FES provided less variation in movements (0.75SD) as opposed to AFO (1.2SD) and cleared the foot further off the ground by improving dorsiflexion by 2.8°, the risk of falls as interpreted by the TUG criteria increased as the results where poorer than AFO by 1.05 seconds. Description: B.SC.(HONS)PHYSIOTHERAPY 2019-01-01T00:00:00Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/52927 Title: Investigating the relationship between physical activity and urinary incontinence : an epidemiological study Abstract: Objective: To identify whether a correlation exists between physical activity and urinary incontinence. More specifically, to establish whether the incidence, severity and type of urinary incontinence can be influenced by different levels of physical activity, and if physical activity could reduce the risk of urinary incontinence in healthy, young and middle-aged adults. Method: An epidemiological study with a quantitative, correlational and explanatory design, and a survey method that was carried out to determine the extent to which the two variables co-vary. Subject recruitment was on a voluntary basis and restricted to anyone aged between 18 and 69 years, with internet access. The International Physical Activity Questionnaire – Short Last 7 Days and the International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire- Urinary Incontinence – Short Form, preceded by a set of introductory questions were used to gather data on physical activity and urinary incontinence respectively. The data collection period ran on for a total of four weeks and the online survey was available for completion throughout the entire duration. IBM SPSS was used to statistically analyse the themes under study and apply a number of statistical tests. Results: Data analysis revealed that the moderately active respondents were least severely affected by urinary incontinence (2.22±0.45), compared to those minimally active respondents (3.09±0.59) who were the most severely affected (p-value 0.031). Conclusion: Moderate activity could reduce the risk of urinary incontinence in healthy, young and middle-aged adults. Furthermore, it can be used as a preliminary measure to restore the continence mechanism before trying more invasive physiotherapeutic treatments. Physiotherapy input can ensure that any incontinent person attains at least a moderate level of activity or any further necessary interventions. Description: B.SC.(HONS)PHYSIOTHERAPY 2019-01-01T00:00:00Z