Rehabilitation Professionals' Self‐Perceived Competence in Safe Patient Handling and Mobility Methods Before and After Training: A Cohort Study

TL;DR

A study in Sweden found that training improved rehabilitation professionals' confidence in safe patient handling methods, especially for those with less experience.

Contribution

The study provides evidence of improved self-perceived competence and utility of SPHMM training among rehabilitation professionals.

Findings

Self-perceived competence in SPHMM significantly improved 3 months after training.

Professionals with less clinical experience showed greater improvement in competence and utility.

HMC training has potential to enhance person-centered and efficient transfer practices in care settings.

Abstract

To address knowledge gaps in safe patient handling and mobility methods (SPHMM) among rehabilitation professionals in Sweden, a national knowledge center, HMC, provides training on SPHMM. The study's aim was to report on outcomes at 3 months after training in terms of self‐perceived competence in SPHMM and self‐perceived utility of acquired competence in SPHMM.

Training participants (occupational therapists and physiotherapists) completed a study‐specific questionnaire, with 1065 doing so at 3 weeks before the training and 389 at 3 months after training. Linear mixed models were used for analyses.

Self‐perceived competence improved significantly at 3 months after training (p < 0.001). Occupational therapists, specifically, and rehabilitation professionals generally with less clinical experience reported greater improvement compared to physiotherapists and those with longer experience (p < 0.001). Rehabilitation professionals overall with shorter clinical experience also reported higher self‐perceived utility of the acquired SPHMM competence (p < 0.001), but occupational therapists and physiotherapists did not differ significantly (p = 0.369).

Among rehabilitation professionals, greater self‐perceived competence and self‐perceived utility of the acquired competence in SPHMM is possible after HMC training. Improvements were greater for those with shorter clinical experience. By enhancing competence among rehabilitation professionals, HMC training has the potential to advance working person‐centered and efficient transfer practices in interdisciplinary care settings.

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