Honors Theses

Date of Award

Spring 5-2021

Document Type

Undergraduate Thesis

Department

Health, Exercise Science, and Recreation Management

First Advisor

Matthew Jessee

Relational Format

Dissertation/Thesis

Abstract

Blood flow restriction (BFR) refers to a relatively new training/rehabilitation method consisting of a tourniquet system applied to a limb to partially inhibit blood flow to the muscles distal to the tourniquet. Though much research has been conducted concerning its use, there is little information addressing why clinicians may or may not implement it. Diffusion of Innovation (DOI) theory explains how a product or idea can spread to specific population groups, ending in adoption of it. The Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research (CFIR) consists of a set of constructs which can be used to determine the specific factors involved in the implementation of an innovation. The current study combined the principles from DOI theory and the CFIR to investigate why clinicians may or may not implement BFR in the clinical setting. To investigate this, an interview addressing twelve implementation constructs was given via teleconference to a total of 10 participants, including five athletic trainers, one occupational therapist, and four physical therapists. Transcripts from the interviews were evaluated to rate each construct as an inhibitor to implementation, neutral to implementation, or facilitative to implementation (-2, -1, 0, +1, +2). The constructs inhibitive to implementation consisted of adaptability, cost, and available resources, while the constructs facilitative of implementation consisted of evidence strength and quality, access to knowledge and information, and knowledge and beliefs about the intervention. Constructs considered neutral or relative to implementation consisted of intervention source, relative advantage, complexity, patient needs and resources, culture, and self-efficacy. An additional two constructs (external policies and incentives, and networks and communications) were noted, but not rated due to lack of investigation. The findings of this research suggest that, while a number of factors contribute to the implementation of BFR, clinicians appear to be most concerned with evidence strength and quality regarding the effectiveness of BFR across different populations, as well as the financial costs associated with BFR. While some clinicians appear to be very receptive to BFR, they may be unable to implement it due to perceived financial restrictions.

Accessibility Status

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Creative Commons License

Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

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