Physiotherapy awareness among clinical doctors in Nepal

Abstract

Introduction: Physiotherapy as a profession has come a long way over the years. As the treatment of injuries and illness has developed over the decades, the practice has evolved and grown from general forms of physical therapies to specialized physiotherapy services in healthcare settings. Despite the recognition and advances gained worldwide in physiotherapy, yet there is lack of research study in Nepal to evaluate the awareness of physiotherapy among clinical doctors of Nepal. Objective of this study is to investigate the awareness of physiotherapy among clinical doctors working in various hospitals of Nepal.

Methods: A cross sectional survey was conducted among the clinical doctors working in various hospitals of Nepal. A questionnaire was randomly distributed among 200 doctors. It comprised of 13 questions related to physiotherapy awareness. Data were collected and statistically analyzed.

Results: Among 115 respondents, 98.3% were aware of physiotherapy and 87.8 % of the doctors reported to have physiotherapy services in their hospital. Referral to physiotherapy was found to be 94.8 %. With respect to referrals to physiotherapy in preoperative cases, it was found that 63% of the clinical doctors agreed to refer their patients to physiotherapists. The study also found that 93% of the clinical doctors agreed to refer their patients to physiotherapy post-operatively. Referrals to ICU were agreed by 88% of the doctors involved in this study. Among the clinical doctors surveyed physiotherapy in orthopedic conditions has the maximum awareness (94.8%). The study found that a very small percent of the clinical doctors knew about physiotherapy education in Nepal (39.1%) and Nepal Physiotherapy Association (NEPTA) (33%).

Conclusions: The study concluded that the clinical doctors had a good awareness about physiotherapy profession. But awareness needs to be accelerated in terms of referrals and specialized services provided by the physiotherapists for potential benefits of the patients. Physiotherapists as a part of the health care team plays an essential role in reducing the hospital stay, quick recovery and in rehabilitation for a better quality life.