Table 3.

Description of Outcome Variables and Relevant Covariate Information^a

Parameter	No. of Participants	% of Participants
Reasons for NOT measuring heart rate (HR) and blood pressure (BP)b (n = 1544)
Equipment not available	93	6.0
Lack of clinic/department/institutional policy	222	14.4
Not certain of ability to perform measurements competently	18	1.2
Not certain of what to do with the information	107	6.9
Lack of time	578	37.4
Not important for my patient population	550	35.6
Other	414	26.8
Reasons for measuring HR and BPb (n = 268)
Certain of ability to perform these measurements competently	78	29.1
Clinic/department/institutional policy	103	38.4
Important for my patient population	213	79.5
Required for insurance reimbursement	8	3.0
Other	43	16.0
Tests/measures comfortable using to screen cardiovascular stabilityc
Activity or health history questionnaire (eg, PARQ, DASI)	743	41.0
Anthropometric measurements (body weight, BMI, waist circumference)	1050	57.9
Static (ie, rest and recovery) measures of HR and BP	1688	93.2
RPE	1371	75.7
Exercise testing (eg, CPX, 6MWT, Step Test, Graded Exercise Tolerance Test)	678	37.4
Dynamic/concurrent exercising measurements of HR and BP	736	40.6
Other	17	0.9
None	22	1.2
Measures currently used to screen for heart diseasec
Anthropometric measurements (body weight, BMI, waist circumference)	646	35.7
Concurrent exercising measurements of HR and BP	210	11.6
Exercise testing (eg, CPX, 6MWT, Step Test, Graded Exercise Tolerance Test)	313	17.3
Validated activity or health history questionnaire (eg, PARQ, DASI)	301	16.6
RPE	776	42.8
Resting HR and BP measurements	1295	71.5
Response and recovery HR and BP measurements	632	34.9
Other	77	4.2
None	223	12.3
Cardiopulmonary assessment equipmentc
Electronic BP monitor	1003	55.4
Pulse oximeter	1375	75.9
Telemetry device or 12-lead ECG	40	2.2
Sphygmomanometer (BP cuff)	1704	94.0
Stethoscope	1687	93.1
Doppler ultrasound device	38	2.1
Other	12	0.7
None	20	1.1
Exercise equipment (select all that apply)
50-cm or 20-in step/platform or standard stairs	1257	69.4
A hallway or floor at least ∼ 30 m (100 ft) long	1360	75.1
NuStepd or reciprocal stepper	883	48.7
Stationary bike	1698	93.7
Treadmill	1652	91.2
Other	59	3.3
None	17	0.9
Where tests and measures used were learned
Undergraduate studies prior to physical therapist school	409	22.6
Physical therapist school	1719	94.9
Continuing education and in-service or employee training	713	39.3
Self-education (eg, reading manuscripts and texts)	604	33.3
Postprofessional residency or fellowship	212	11.7
Other	77	4.2

^aFor 1812 participants unless otherwise noted. BMI = body mass index; CPX = Cardiopulmonary Exercise Test; DASI = Duke Activity Status Index; ECG = electrocardiogram; PARQ = Physical Activity Readiness Questionnaire; RPE, rating of perceived exertion; 6MWT = 6-Minute Walk Test.

^bn is less than 1812 (participants only fell in 1 of these 2 categories).

^cn exceeds 1812 (participants could select multiple options).

^dNuStep LLC, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.