Examination of Physiotherapists' Knowledge, Awareness and Competence on Physical Activity and Exercise in Hemophilia Patients

Hemophilia is a congenital bleeding disorder that leads to intra-articular bleeding and musculoskeletal damage, significantly reducing the quality of life. Although physical activity and physiotherapy play a crucial role in preserving joint health, a lack of knowledge and misconceptions cause patients to avoid exercise. Physiotherapists hold a critical role in this process; however, data on their education and awareness levels remain insufficient. Therefore, identifying the educational needs of physiotherapists and enhancing their capacity to guide patients is of great importance.

Study Objective This study aims to assess the knowledge levels, awareness, perceived roles, and educational adequacy of physiotherapists regarding exercise and physical activity in hemophilia patients. Additionally, it seeks to examine physiotherapists' learning preferences and the external barriers they face, contributing to the development of strategies to address these gaps. The findings will serve as a foundation for improving physiotherapists' ability to provide guidance and education to hemophilia patients.

Study Design and Methodology This research is designed as a cross-sectional, online survey study targeting physiotherapists. The reporting of the survey will be conducted using a checklist developed for internet-based e-surveys.

Survey Development

The survey will be developed by a team of experts, including:

A graduate student in physiotherapy and rehabilitation, Two doctoral-level researchers working as academicians, A hematology specialist with ten years of experience in treating hemophilia patients.

The content of the survey will be based on the guidelines developed by the World Federation of Hemophilia. A mixed-question format (multiple-choice, Likert scales, open-ended questions) will be used.

The survey will cover the following topics:

Knowledge level regarding physical activity and exercise education in hemophilia patients, Perceived role, competence, and external factors affecting exercise prescription, Learning preferences, Participants' years of experience and postgraduate education status. Pilot Study and Data Collection The survey will first be piloted with five physiotherapists within the clinical network. At this stage, minor modifications will be made to improve question clarity if necessary. The final version of the survey will be created using Google Forms and distributed to participants via email and WhatsApp.

The survey's introduction section will include:

Estimated completion time, Data storage methods, Researcher identities, Study objectives, A checkbox for participants to provide informed consent.

Data Analysis In addition to questions assessing knowledge levels, participants' perceptions of their knowledge, education, skills, confidence, and role will be evaluated using a Likert scale (ranging from "strongly agree" to "strongly disagree"). Furthermore, participants' learning preferences and external factors influencing their learning process regarding exercise and physical activity in hemophilia patients will be analyzed.