Journal of Sleep Disorders & Therapy
Open Access
ISSN: 2167-0277
+44 1478 350008
ISSN: 2167-0277
+44 1478 350008
Sleep is important for a variety of conditions treated by Physiotherapists (PTs), who have an imperative role on wellness and health promoting, mobility, and functional independence; yet sleep education is not included in most physiotherapy programs curricula. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the knowledge, attitudes, and perceptions of Brazilian PTs about sleep, sleep education, and their assessment and education of patients about sleep. This cross-sectional study electronically surveyed 224 licensed PTs practicing in Brazil. Descriptive analyses and logistic regressions were conducted. Of the 224 respondents: 98.9% agreed that sleep is important for overall health; 97.8% agreed that sleep disorders may contribute to medical problems; 94.5% agreed that addressing sleep issues may impact on rehabilitation outcomes; 79.4% did not receive education about sleep during entry-level physiotherapy education; 35.6% received education about sleep in continuing education and during advanced degree programs. Patients aged between 40-59 years-old had less chance of having their sleep habits or quality of sleep assessed, and those aged between 15-18 years and 40-59 years had less chances of being educated about the importance of sleep. Younger PTs had increased chance of routinely educating their patients about the importance of sleep. Brazilian PTs acknowledged that sleep impacts rehabilitation and is important for their patients, which requires sleep education. Therefore, entry-level PT education programs should consider incorporating education about sleep in curricula, as the development of continuing education courses in Brazil are urgently needed.
Published Date: 2024-08-30; Received Date: 2024-07-31