To build capacity in physiotherapy education regarding obesity and metabolic rehabilitation across the EU To facilitate standardisation of obesity education for EU Physiotherapists by developing: PROMINENCE CONSORTIUM (researchers, educators, clinicians, scientists, ERWP) PROMINENCE OBESITY COMPETENCY FRAMEWORK for Physiotherapists PROMINENCE OPEN EDUCATION RESOURCE incorporating high quality existing and newly generated OBESITY LEARNING RESOURCES PROMINENCE COMMUNICATION AND DISSEMINATION STRATEGY to enhance obesity education for Physiotherapists across the EU Overall the project sought to address a gap in education of physiotherapists across the EU, regarding the highly prevalent chronic disease of obesity. Additionally, there has been a paradigm shift in the thinking on obesity management with new treatment approaches available and a need for all health care professionals to be educated regarding evidence based contemporary approaches. This project aimed to identify what obesity competencies are necessary for physiotherapists and to develop a readily implementable open education resource to support the achievement of such competencies in physiotherapy professional education programmes across the EU.
Needs addressed by project: Obesity is one of the most visible but neglected public health challenges of the 21st century. According to WHO projections, Europe is facing a major obesity crisis by 2030. A priority action of the European Association for the Study of Obesity (EASO) included a call for improved education for healthcare professions (HCPs), to support more effective, informed multidisciplinary care for people with obesity. A lack of focus on obesity in physiotherapy education needs to be addressed with approximately 565,000 practising physiotherapists in the EU who could deliver evidence based obesity care if prepared by their entry level education. Establishing a transnational consortium of physiotherapy educators with a focus on driving obesity education across the EU is warranted. An Obesity Competencies Framework for physiotherapists would underpin physiotherapy education programmes and drive a more standardised approach to education. Additionally evidence based Open Education Resources for integration of obesity content into physiotherapy professional education programmes across the EU would drive obesity education and ultimately enhance healthcare for EU citizens living with obesity.