Original Research K. Allison, BPT, PhD, Centre for Health, Exercise and Sports Medicine, The Uni- versity of Melbourne, 160 Barry St, Parkville, Victoria 3010, Australia. Ad- dress all correspondence to Dr Allison at: kim.allison@unimelb.edu.au. J. Setchell, BPT, PhD, School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Queensland, Australia. T. Egerton, BPT, PhD, Centre for Health, Exercise and Sports Medicine, The Uni- versity of Melbourne. C. Delany, BPT, PhD, Department of General Practice, The University of Mel- bourne. K.L. Bennell, BPT, PhD, Centre for Health, Exercise and Sports Medicine, The University of Melbourne. [Allison K, Setchell J, Egerton T, De- lany C, Bennell KL. In theory, yes; in practice, uncertain: a qualitative study exploring physical therapists’ attitudes toward their role in weight manage- ment for people with knee osteoarthri- tis. Phys Ther. 2019;99:601–611.] C  2019 American Physical Therapy As- sociation Published Ahead of Print: January 31, 2019 Accepted: October 23, 2018 Submitted: December 20, 2017 In Theory, Yes; in Practice, Uncertain: A Qualitative Study Exploring Physical Therapists’ Attitudes Toward Their Roles in Weight Management for People With Knee Osteoarthritis Kim Allison, Jenny Setchell, Thorlene Egerton, Clare Delany, Kim L. Bennell Background. Physical therapists are at the frontline of treatment for knee osteoarthritis (OA). International guidelines recommend weight loss for individuals with knee OA who are overweight, and research indicates that patients believe it is appropriate for physical therapists to address weight. Objectives. The objective was to explore physical therapists’ attitudes about their role in weight management for people with OA. Design. This was a qualitative semistructured telephone interview study. Methods. Participants included 13 purposively sampled physical therapists who had treated at least 1 patient with knee OA within the past 12 months. Each participated in a telephone interview exploring their perceptions and attitudes toward the role of physical therapists in providing weight management support for people with knee OA. Data were analyzed using a thematic approach. Results. Three main themes were identifed, which highlighted that physical therapists: (1) believe they have a role in facilitating weight loss for people with knee OA; (2) are uncertain how to integrate weight loss into their management; and (3) are conscious of the psychosocial complexities and the need to tread cautiously around weight management. Conclusions. Physical therapists are aware of the importance of weight loss in the man- agement of knee OA, and believe weight management falls within their role and responsi- bilities; however, they do not feel equipped to fulfll this role. They also acknowledge the weight management conversation as potentially sensitive. This study highlights the need for training opportunities to develop physical therapists’ skills and confdence in weight management for people with knee OA who are overweight, including consideration of the potential harms and benefts of this aspect of care. 2019 Volume 99 Number 5 Physical Therapy ■ 601 Downloaded from https://academic.oup.com/ptj/article-abstract/99/5/601/5304993 by University of Queensland Library user on 11 August 2019