Table 2.
Association between having confidence and the variables of years of clinical practice experience, current caseload of consumers with RA, postgraduate (PG) qualifications in musculoskeletal physiotherapy (MSKP), and primary area of work in MSKP (n = 273).
| Confidence question topics | Having confidence % of respondents |
Yrs of clinical experiencea
Chi-square (df), P value OR (95% CI) |
Current RA caseload Chi-square (df), P value OR (95% CI) |
PG MSKP Quals Chi-square (df), P value OR (95% CI) |
Primary work area MSKP Chi-square (df), P value OR (95% CI) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Recognising signs and symptoms of an early presentation of RA | 58.2 |
28.1
(1),
<0.01* 1.91 (1.47 : 2.48) |
2.3 (1), 0.12 1.46 (0.90 : 2.36) |
8.6
(1),
<0.01* 3.68 (1.47 : 0.24) |
0.0 (1), 0.85 1.05 (0.65 : 1.70) |
| Knowledge of the typical clinical course of RA | 46.9 |
11.8
(1),
<0.01* 1.47 (1.18 : 1.84) |
18.6
(1),
<0.01* 2.92 (1.78 : 4.78) |
10.1
(1),
<0.01* 3.49 (1.36 : 7.82) |
4.0
(1),
0.04* 1.63 (1.01 : 2.63) |
| Knowledge of evidence-based physiotherapy interventions for the management of patients with RA | 22.7 | 1.2 (1), 0.28 1.15 (0.90 : 1.47) |
16.1
(1),
<0.01* 3.42 (1.84 : 6.37) |
0.1 (1), 0.83 0.91 (0.37 : 2.2) |
12.3
(1),
<0.01* 2.87 (1.57 : 5.26) |
| Knowledge to effectively and safely assist in the management of a patient with RA throughout the various stages of their disease | 34.4 |
11.0
(1),
<0.01* 1.46 (1.17 : 1.83) |
18.4
(1),
<0.01* 3.10 (1.83 : 5.24) |
14.2
(1),
<0.01* 4.0 (1.87 : 8.57) |
13.0
(1),
<0.01* 2.56 (1.53 : 4.30) |
aOR from the equation represents the increase or decrease in odds for a 10-year increase in clinical experience.
Abbreviations: RA: rheumatoid arthritis; Yrs: years; Quals: qualifications; df: degrees of freedom; OR: odds ratio; CI: confidence interval.