Reported practices related to, and capability to provide, first-line knee osteoarthritis treatments: a survey of 1064 Australian physical therapists.

Participants were physical therapists attending a GLA:D Australia training course, so they were likely already interested in osteoarthritis care and may not represent all Australian physical therapists. The study relied on anonymous self-report, so it may not show what therapists actually do in clinic. The survey had a limited number of questions and did not cover all possible barriers or enablers to guideline-recommended care. The paper reports therapist awareness, confidence and self-reported practice, not patient outcomes, so it cannot show whether these practices improved knee osteoarthritis symptoms or function. Only 1064 of an estimated 26 000 Australian physical therapists were represented, and the sample was estimated to be 4% of the profession.

CJB received a MRFF Translating Research Into Practice Fellowship. JLK received an NHMRC early career fellowship. NAL received a Future Leader Fellowship from the National Heart Foundation of Australia. CJB, KMC and JLK lead GLA:D Australia, a not-for-profit implementation initiative that trains Australian physical therapists to provide guideline-recommended education and exercise therapy. The survey participants were recruited from GLA:D Australia training courses.

Do not treat these percentages as observed clinical behaviour or as proof that patient care is adequate. The study asked therapists to report their own practices, and participants were recruited from a training course, so the findings may not represent all Australian physical therapists.