Physical Therapy Patient Exercise Adherence Intervention

Non-adherence to prescribed home exercise programs significantly undermines the efficacy of physical therapy (PT), with research indicating only approximately 35% of patients fully adhere to regimens. This issue contributes to suboptimal recovery and places a staggering financial burden on the healthcare system, estimated at $100 billion to $300 billion annually. The Physical Therapy Home Exercise Adherence Trial (PT-HEAT) evaluates the effectiveness of a 14-week behavioral education intervention designed to improve patient adherence outside the clinical setting.
Utilizing the Health Action Process Approach (HAPA) model, this protocol involves PT staff administering a motivational-volitional screener, followed by trained student aides delivering targeted Patient Education Tools to address adherence barriers. Data collection includes pre-intervention, post-intervention, and follow-up assessments using validated surveys on HAPA constructs, physical activity levels, pain ratings, and quality of life.
This study hypothesizes that targeting behavioral determinants will lead to marked increases in adherence and improved chronic condition management. By bridging the gap between clinical instruction and home behavior, the PT-HEAT intervention aims to reduce disability rates and alleviate the strain on the Kansas healthcare system, offering a scalable model to improve patient outcomes and reduce long-term costs.