Assessing Cranial Nerves in Physical Therapy Practice: Findings from a Cross-Sectional Survey and Implication for Clinical Practice
Background and objective: Serious pathologies of the neck can potentially result in cranial nerve palsy. Knowledge about cranial nerve examination (CNE) seems sparse, and its use is still unknown. We aim to investigate the knowledge, skills, and utilization of CNE of Italian physiotherapists. Materi...
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| Format: | Article |
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MDPI AG
2021-09-01
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9032/9/10/1262 |
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| author | Firas Mourad Giovanni Lopez Fabio Cataldi Filippo Maselli Leonardo Pellicciari Mattia Salomon Hendrikus Kranenburg Roger Kerry Alan Taylor Nathan Hutting |
| author_facet | Firas Mourad Giovanni Lopez Fabio Cataldi Filippo Maselli Leonardo Pellicciari Mattia Salomon Hendrikus Kranenburg Roger Kerry Alan Taylor Nathan Hutting |
| author_sort | Firas Mourad |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background and objective: Serious pathologies of the neck can potentially result in cranial nerve palsy. Knowledge about cranial nerve examination (CNE) seems sparse, and its use is still unknown. We aim to investigate the knowledge, skills, and utilization of CNE of Italian physiotherapists. Materials and Methods: An online cross-sectional survey. Results: 396 completed the survey, reaching the required sample size. Although Italian physiotherapists consider CNE relevant (mean ± SD = 7.6/10 ± 2.0), over half of all responders (<i>n</i> = 229 (57.8%)) were not trained in the fundamentals and around a third did not use it in their daily practice (<i>n</i> = 138 (34.8%)). Additionally, participants were unconfident and insecure in conducting (<i>n</i> = 152 (38.4%) and <i>n</i> = 147 (37.1%)), interpreting (<i>n</i> = 140 (35.4%) and <i>n</i> = 164 (41.4%)), and managing the CNE (<i>n</i> = 141 (35.6%) and <i>n</i> = 154 (38.9%)). Possessing a musculoskeletal specialization was associated with an increased value attributed to clinical practice guidelines and reduced the lack of confidence in conducting, interpreting, and managing the CNE (respectively, <i>n</i> = 35 (25.5%), <i>p</i> = 0.0001; <i>n</i> = 32 (23.4%) <i>p</i> = 0.0002; <i>n</i> = 32 (23.4%) <i>p</i> = 0.0002). Working in a direct access setting significantly increased the considered relevance of guidelines and the concerns about arterial (<i>p</i> = 0.004) and other serious pathologies (<i>p</i> = 0.021). Pain and visual disturbances were considered the main indicators to CNE, demonstrating limited knowledge of signs and symptoms’ indicating CNE. Participants considered specific training in CNE as relevant (mean ± SD = 7.6/10 = 2.1). Conclusions: a substantial proportion of Italian physiotherapists are not schooled in the fundamentals of cranial nerve examination. Given the number of physiotherapists who work in first contact roles, this is a professional concern. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T06:31:40Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-48987cc653bd430fa33545b472c32daa |
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| issn | 2227-9032 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T06:31:40Z |
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| spelling | doaj.art-48987cc653bd430fa33545b472c32daa2023-11-22T18:24:12ZengMDPI AGHealthcare2227-90322021-09-01910126210.3390/healthcare9101262Assessing Cranial Nerves in Physical Therapy Practice: Findings from a Cross-Sectional Survey and Implication for Clinical PracticeFiras Mourad0Giovanni Lopez1Fabio Cataldi2Filippo Maselli3Leonardo Pellicciari4Mattia Salomon5Hendrikus Kranenburg6Roger Kerry7Alan Taylor8Nathan Hutting9Department of Physiotherapy, LUNEX International University of Health, Exercise and Sports, 4671 Differdange, LuxembourgDepartment of Clinical Science and Translation Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Surgery, University of Rome Tor Vergata, 00133 Roma, ItalyDepartment of Clinical Science and Translation Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Surgery, University of Rome Tor Vergata, 00133 Roma, ItalySovrintendenza Sanitaria Regionale Puglia INAIL, 70126 Bari, ItalyIRCCS Fondazione Don Carlo Gnocchi, 50143 Florence, ItalyDepartment of Clinical Science and Translation Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Surgery, University of Rome Tor Vergata, 00133 Roma, ItalyResearch Group Healthy Ageing, Allied Health Care and Nursing, Hanze University of Applied Sciences, 9714 CE Groningen, The NetherlandsDivision of Physiotherapy and Sport Rehabilitation, School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Nottingham University, Nottingham NG5 1PB, UKDivision of Physiotherapy and Sport Rehabilitation, School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Nottingham University, Nottingham NG5 1PB, UKDepartment of Occupation and Health, School of Organisation and Development, HAN University of Applied Sciences, 6503 GL Nijmegen, The NetherlandsBackground and objective: Serious pathologies of the neck can potentially result in cranial nerve palsy. Knowledge about cranial nerve examination (CNE) seems sparse, and its use is still unknown. We aim to investigate the knowledge, skills, and utilization of CNE of Italian physiotherapists. Materials and Methods: An online cross-sectional survey. Results: 396 completed the survey, reaching the required sample size. Although Italian physiotherapists consider CNE relevant (mean ± SD = 7.6/10 ± 2.0), over half of all responders (<i>n</i> = 229 (57.8%)) were not trained in the fundamentals and around a third did not use it in their daily practice (<i>n</i> = 138 (34.8%)). Additionally, participants were unconfident and insecure in conducting (<i>n</i> = 152 (38.4%) and <i>n</i> = 147 (37.1%)), interpreting (<i>n</i> = 140 (35.4%) and <i>n</i> = 164 (41.4%)), and managing the CNE (<i>n</i> = 141 (35.6%) and <i>n</i> = 154 (38.9%)). Possessing a musculoskeletal specialization was associated with an increased value attributed to clinical practice guidelines and reduced the lack of confidence in conducting, interpreting, and managing the CNE (respectively, <i>n</i> = 35 (25.5%), <i>p</i> = 0.0001; <i>n</i> = 32 (23.4%) <i>p</i> = 0.0002; <i>n</i> = 32 (23.4%) <i>p</i> = 0.0002). Working in a direct access setting significantly increased the considered relevance of guidelines and the concerns about arterial (<i>p</i> = 0.004) and other serious pathologies (<i>p</i> = 0.021). Pain and visual disturbances were considered the main indicators to CNE, demonstrating limited knowledge of signs and symptoms’ indicating CNE. Participants considered specific training in CNE as relevant (mean ± SD = 7.6/10 = 2.1). Conclusions: a substantial proportion of Italian physiotherapists are not schooled in the fundamentals of cranial nerve examination. Given the number of physiotherapists who work in first contact roles, this is a professional concern.https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9032/9/10/1262cranial nerve examinationphysical therapydifferential diagnosisneck painneurological examination |
| spellingShingle | Firas Mourad Giovanni Lopez Fabio Cataldi Filippo Maselli Leonardo Pellicciari Mattia Salomon Hendrikus Kranenburg Roger Kerry Alan Taylor Nathan Hutting Assessing Cranial Nerves in Physical Therapy Practice: Findings from a Cross-Sectional Survey and Implication for Clinical Practice Healthcare cranial nerve examination physical therapy differential diagnosis neck pain neurological examination |
| title | Assessing Cranial Nerves in Physical Therapy Practice: Findings from a Cross-Sectional Survey and Implication for Clinical Practice |
| title_full | Assessing Cranial Nerves in Physical Therapy Practice: Findings from a Cross-Sectional Survey and Implication for Clinical Practice |
| title_fullStr | Assessing Cranial Nerves in Physical Therapy Practice: Findings from a Cross-Sectional Survey and Implication for Clinical Practice |
| title_full_unstemmed | Assessing Cranial Nerves in Physical Therapy Practice: Findings from a Cross-Sectional Survey and Implication for Clinical Practice |
| title_short | Assessing Cranial Nerves in Physical Therapy Practice: Findings from a Cross-Sectional Survey and Implication for Clinical Practice |
| title_sort | assessing cranial nerves in physical therapy practice findings from a cross sectional survey and implication for clinical practice |
| topic | cranial nerve examination physical therapy differential diagnosis neck pain neurological examination |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9032/9/10/1262 |
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