Guideline ImplementationNCT07576751
Physiotherapy Practice in Flemish Nursing Homes
An observational study of Guideline Implementation and Physiotherapy, run by Hasselt University at 3 sites in Belgium.
Trial summary
The goal of this observational study is to evaluate the extent to which physiotherapy sessions in Flemish nursing homes adhere to the IAGG-GARN guidelines and to explore factors influencing clinical practice among physiotherapists. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Any ageHealthy volunteers can take part
- Conditions the study is for
- Guideline Implementation, Physiotherapy, Nursing Homes
- What is being tested?
- Mapping therapy sessions
- How many people
- 40 participants
- Where
- 3 sitesBelgium
- Study dates
- 23 Mar 2026to 1 Dec 2028
- How long will I take part?
- 2 Weeks
- Phase
- Observational
- Are there results?
- Not yet: the study is under way
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages Any age
- All sexes
- Healthy volunteers accepted
- Child, Adult, Older adult
Study population: The study population consists of licensed physiotherapists working in Flemish nursing homes who provide physiotherapy to older residents
Who may be able to join
- None beyond being a licensed physiotherapist working in a Flemish nursing home and willing to participate.
Who cannot join
- None
Trial locations and contacts
3 sites in 1 country. Contact the study team or a site near you to ask about taking part.
Belgium3 sites, 3 recruiting
- Not yet recruiting
Nursing home
Deurne, Antwerpen
- Recruiting
Nursing home
Tongeren, Limburg
- Recruiting
Nursing home
Zoersel, Antwerpen
About this study
Official title: Physiotherapy in Flemish Nursing Homes: Insights Into Practice, Barriers, and Facilitators
The goal of this observational study is to evaluate the extent to which physiotherapy sessions in Flemish nursing homes adhere to the IAGG-GARN guidelines and to explore factors influencing clinical practice among physiotherapists.
The study targets multiple nursing homes across Flanders, with 3 to 5 centers in each of the provinces of Limburg, Antwerp, and Flemish Brabant. This selection ensures variation in geographic location and organizational context. The participants in this study are physiotherapists working in the participating nursing homes.
Read more
The main questions it aims to answer are:
- To what extent do the physiotherapy sessions align with the IAGG-GARN guidelines?
- Are there differences in physiotherapy session content and volume according to physiotherapist characteristics and resident characteristics?
- What barriers and facilitators do physiotherapists experience when implementing guideline-based practice in Flemish nursing homes?
Researchers will observe physiotherapy sessions delivered as part of routine care and document session content and duration using structured observation diaries. Participating physiotherapists will also take part in focus groups discussing experiences with guideline implementation, barriers, facilitators, and clinical decision-making.
- Conditions
- Guideline Implementation, Physiotherapy, Nursing Homes, Focus Group
- Being tested
- Mapping therapy sessions
- Keywords
- Physical therapy, Older adults, Geriatrics, Long-term care, Guideline implementation, Focus groups, Clinical practice
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Mapping therapy sessionsOther
Mapping therapy sessions provided by physical therapists in Flemish nursing homes
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Guideline Adherence to IAGG-GARN Recommendations
Overall adherence of physiotherapy sessions in Flemish nursing homes to IAGG-GARN recommendations. Adherence is assessed through structured direct observation of the routine physiotherapy sessions. The secondary outcomes are operationalize adherence to the guideline (frequency, exercise intensity, exercise duration, exercise type and personalization)
Measured: 2 weeks
Secondary outcomes (15)
Exercise Description
Narrative description of each exercise performed during a physiotherapy sessions.
Measured: 2 weeks
Use of Equipment, Aids or Materials
Type of equipment, aids or materials used during each exercise.
Measured: 2 weeks
Exercise format
Whether the exercise is performed individually or in a group setting.
Measured: 2 weeks
Group Size
Number of participants involved in group-based exercises.
Measured: 2 weeks
Level of supervision
Level of supervision provided by the physiotherapist during exercises (none, intermittent, continuous)
Measured: 2 weeks
Exercise Start and End Time
Start and end time of each exercise performed during physiotherapy sessions
Measured: 2 weeks
Rest Periods During Exercises
Rest periods during physiotherapy exercises, recorded separately as (1) rest periods instructed or allowed by the physiotherapist and (2) rest periods actually taken by the resident during exercise.
Measured: 2 weeks
Exercise Category
Category of each exercise performed during physiotherapy sessions (strength, endurance, mobility/flexibility, balance/coordination, or other)
Measured: 2 weeks
Exercise Volume - Repetitions
Number of repetitions per exercise, recorded separately as (1) repetitions prescribed by the physiotherapist and (2) repetitions actually performed by the resident during the exercise.
Measured: 2 weeks
Exercise Intensity
Intensity of each exercise performed during physiotherapy sessions, including whether intensity was explicitly determined during the exercise, the method used to determine intensity, the recorded intensity value, and the observer's interpretation (high, medium or low intensity).
Measured: 2 weeks
Walking or Treadmill parameters
Parameters during walking or treadmill exercises (incline and speed).
Measured: 2 weeks
Cycling Parameters
Parameters recorded during cycling exercises (rounds per minute, resistance and distance)
Measured: 2 weeks
Speed of movement
Speed of movement during exercises, classified according to the observed execution pace (slow, controlled or fast).
Measured: 2 weeks
External Load (Resistance)
External load applied during exercises (kg).
Measured: 2 weeks
Contextual Factors
Contextual elements influencing physiotherapy sessions, such as disturbances (e.g., noise, interruptions) and other relevant observations.
Measured: 2 weeks
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted8 May 2026
- Study start23 Mar 2026
- Primary completion1 Jan 2028 (estimated)
- Study completion1 Dec 2028 (estimated)
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for Guideline ImplementationStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Observational
- Observational model
- Cohort
- Time perspective
- Prospective
- Enrolment
- 40 participants (estimated)
- Target duration
- 2 Weeks
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Hasselt University
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Joke Spildooren, Hasselt University
- Investigators
- Joke Spildooren, Prof.dr, Principal investigator, UHasselt
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07576751
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- B1152025000037
- Other IDs
- BOF25OWB11
- Status last verified
- May 2026
- First submitted
- 2 Apr 2026
- Last updated
- 8 May 2026
- Results posted
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 8 May 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Physiotherapy in Flemish Nursing Homes: Insights Into Practice, Barriers, and Facilitators
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07576751
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- B1152025000037
- Conditions
- Guideline Implementation, Physiotherapy, Nursing Homes, Focus Group
- Keywords
- Physical therapy, Older adults, Geriatrics, Long-term care, Guideline implementation, Focus groups, Clinical practice
- Study type
- Observational
- Recruitment status
- Recruiting
- Enrolment
- 40 participants (estimated)
- Lead sponsor
- Hasselt UniversityUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 23 Mar 2026 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 1 Jan 2028 (estimated)
- Study completion
- 1 Dec 2028 (estimated)
- First posted
- 8 May 2026 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
The goal of this observational study is to evaluate the extent to which physiotherapy sessions in Flemish nursing homes adhere to the IAGG-GARN guidelines and to explore factors influencing clinical practice among physiotherapists.
The study targets multiple nursing homes across Flanders, with 3 to 5 centers in each of the provinces of Limburg, Antwerp, and Flemish Brabant. This selection ensures variation in geographic location and organizational context. The participants in this study are physiotherapists working in the participating nursing homes.
The main questions it aims to answer are:
- To what extent do the physiotherapy sessions align with the IAGG-GARN guidelines?
- Are there differences in physiotherapy session content and volume according to physiotherapist characteristics and resident characteristics?
- What barriers and facilitators do physiotherapists experience when implementing guideline-based practice in Flemish nursing homes?
Researchers will observe physiotherapy sessions delivered as part of routine care and document session content and duration using structured observation diaries. Participating physiotherapists will also take part in focus groups discussing experiences with guideline implementation, barriers, facilitators, and clinical decision-making.
Study design
- Observational model
- Cohort
- Time perspective
- Prospective
- Target follow-up
- 2 Weeks
Who may qualify
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Accepted
- Age groups
- Child, Adult, Older adult
- Study population
- The study population consists of licensed physiotherapists working in Flemish nursing homes who provide physiotherapy to older residents
Key inclusion criteria (1 listed)
- None beyond being a licensed physiotherapist working in a Flemish nursing home and willing to participate.
Key exclusion criteria (1 listed)
- None
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| Mapping therapy sessionsMapping therapy sessions provided by physical therapists in Flemish nursing homes | Other | – |
Primary outcome
Guideline Adherence to IAGG-GARN Recommendations
Time frame: 2 weeks
Overall adherence of physiotherapy sessions in Flemish nursing homes to IAGG-GARN recommendations. Adherence is assessed through structured direct observation of the routine physiotherapy sessions. The secondary outcomes are operationalize adherence to the guideline (frequency, exercise intensity, exercise duration, exercise type and personalization)
15 secondary outcomes
Exercise Description
Time frame: 2 weeks
Use of Equipment, Aids or Materials
Time frame: 2 weeks
Exercise format
Time frame: 2 weeks
Group Size
Time frame: 2 weeks
Level of supervision
Time frame: 2 weeks
Exercise Start and End Time
Time frame: 2 weeks
Rest Periods During Exercises
Time frame: 2 weeks
Exercise Category
Time frame: 2 weeks
Exercise Volume - Repetitions
Time frame: 2 weeks
Exercise Intensity
Time frame: 2 weeks
Walking or Treadmill parameters
Time frame: 2 weeks
Cycling Parameters
Time frame: 2 weeks
Speed of movement
Time frame: 2 weeks
External Load (Resistance)
Time frame: 2 weeks
Contextual Factors
Time frame: 2 weeks
Results and safety
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 8 May 2026.
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part.
Joke Spildooren, Prof.dr principal investigator
UHasselt
3 sites in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
An observational study of Guideline Implementation and Physiotherapy, run by Hasselt University at 3 sites in Belgium.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 1 inclusion and 1 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: looking for participants now, as of the sponsor's last update on 8 May 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 3 sites in Belgium. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
Contact Maxine Claes, Msc (+3211268443, maxine.claes@uhasselt.be), or a site near the patient. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Guideline Adherence to IAGG-GARN Recommendations (time frame: 2 weeks). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 8 May 2026.