Lymphedema management training for physical therapy students in the UnitedStates

BACKGROUND. The objective of this study was to determine to what extent acc redited physical therapy programs in the United States were presenting the principles of lymphedema management and whether regional differences existe d. METHODS. Stares were grouped into four geographic regions: Northeast, South , Midwest, and West. From mid-June to mid-July, 1997, 63 of 148 (42.6%) acc redited physical therapy (PT) programs in the United States completed and r eturned the questionnaires. Participants received a cover letter, consent f orm, and lymphedema survey by e-mail, facsimile, or regular post. The lymph edema survey covered a wide variety of issues relating to five areas: 1) ge neral and 2) specific anatomy and physiology of the lymphatic system, 3) pa thogenesis of lymphedema, 4) traditional (compression pumps/garments), and 5) innovative (European/Australian) treatment techniques for lymphedema. "Y es" responses indicated that specific information was included in the curri culum. Frequency of yes responses for each of the five areas were counted a nd converted into percentages. Regional responses were compared with the to tal combined responses with a modified binomial technique. RESULTS. PT programs in the United States were providing 89% of our designa ted content in the general anatomy and physiology of the lymphatic system, 73% in the pathogenesis of lymphedema, 65% in traditional treatment techniq ues, 48% in innovative treatment techniques, and 42% in the specific anatom y and physiology of the lymphatic system. No individual region differed sig nificantly (P > 0.05) from the combined results. CONCLUSIONS, The participating PT programs appeared to be providing instruc tion in general anatomy and physiology of the lymphatic system, pathogenesi s of lymphedema, and traditional treatment techniques. However, far less in struction on the specific anatomy and physiology of the lymphatic system an d innovative treatment techniques is offered. We believe that PT students w ould benefit with more curricular content in these latter two categories in order to acquire the knowledge and skills to combat the devastating effect s of lymphedema. Cancer 1998;83:2869-73. (C) 1998 American Cancer Society.