Author(s): DAVISON, K., GOWER, B., Institution: UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH AUSTRALIA, Country: AUSTRALIA, Abstract-ID: 1818

INTRODUCTION:
It is well established that exercise plays an important role in the management of chronic non-communicable diseases. Clinical Exercise Physiologists (CEPs) are appropriately qualified practitioners to deliver these services in a therapeutic context. Many of the health and cost benefits reported from CEP led services have been modelled from randomised controlled trials and industry surveys and there is minimal direct evidence of effectiveness of CEP in real-world practice. It is, therefore, important to assess the use of CEP services as they are being implemented in the health care context. The aim of this study was to 1) describe the demographic and clinical status of individuals accessing CEP services, and 2) assess the effectiveness of CEP services delivered across a range of community-based clinics on health and functional markers.
METHODS:
A pre-post cohort design was used to evaluate outcomes among adults commencing CEP services across four sites delivering CEP alongside other Allied Health interventions. Individuals newly enrolled in CEP programs of 4–12 weeks’ duration were eligible. Collected variables included demographics, presenting conditions, comorbidities, resting blood pressure, aerobic capacity (6‑minute walk test; 6MWT), lower‑limb function (30 second sit‑to‑stand test), and intervention exposure. Descriptive statistics summarised participants baseline characteristics and pre-post changes for resting blood pressure, 6MWT, and 30 second sit-to-stand measures.
RESULTS:
Participants represented a wide range social advantage. Mean systolic blood pressure decreased by 5 mmHg, with 11 individuals shifting to a lower clinical classification when compared to their baseline measurement. Lower‑limb function improved by an average of 3 sit‑to‑stand repetitions (baseline 10; follow‑up 13). Mean 6MWT distance increased by 79 m. Among participants with pre and post data for intervention details, the average program dose was nine sessions over an average of eight weeks.
CONCLUSION:
These findings indicate clinically meaningful improvements across multiple functional and physiological outcomes in diverse service contexts, including public and private healthcare settings and regions with varying levels of social disadvantage. Variability between sites suggests that service model and delivery context may influence individual responses to CEP interventions.