Perception of tertiary care clients toward the availability of physical therapy service at primary health care centers in Saudi Arabia: a cross-sectional survey

Abstract

To explore the views of clients referred for physical therapy in a tertiary care setting regarding the integration of physical therapy service at primary health care centers. [Participants and Methods] A selfadministered questionnaire was distributed to eligible Saudi clients. The questionnaire consisted of three sections including demographic information section; closed-ended section with 6 Likert scale items on the perceptions of potential advantages of physical therapy service at the primary health care level; and open-ended section on potential disadvantages and barriers of implementing physical therapy service. The surveys were described and analyzed quantitatively and qualitatively. [Results] A total of 412 participants were included in the analysis (56.8% females). Participants' mean age was 35.7 ± 21.9 years; 67.2% were Riyadh city residents; and 38.1% had musculoskeletal conditions. Seventy-five percent responded in support for the availability of physical therapy service at the primary health care level. Demographic characteristics had no effect on the level of support to the service availability. [Conclusion] The results of this survey demonstrated high positive support for the integration of physical therapy service at primary health care centers in Saudi Arabia. However, challenges and barriers identified by the study results require attention when physical therapy services are to be established.

Comparison of attitudes and beliefs of physical therapists and primary care physicians regarding low back pain management: A cross-sectional study

“…However, there is an agreement among patients and stakeholders that physical therapy services are best suited to the primary care setting [19,20] and physical therapy will soon be integrated into the primary care setting. Moreover, various studies from different countries have demonstrated successful implementation of physical therapy at the first point of contact for patients with musculoskeletal conditions [21][22][23].…”

Physiotherapist as Health Promotion Practitioners in Primary Health Care (PHC) in Riyadh City

“…The role of physiotherapists is most crucial when it comes to the health of the people as these personnel director guide the people about how to manage their health issues [14]. These days, health issues have remained the major concern for the people while physiotherapists usually help the people about maintaining their health by proper and suitable kind of exercise as well as other aspects that are needed for a person to maintain health to the highest level [9]. The physiotherapists spend their lives to keep interacting with the people and listening to their health issues, and then directing them to buy medicines that are more likely to resolve their health issues.…”

“…In this way, it is the physiotherapists who usually keep the public aware of the disease attacks and advise the public to take the further step to make their body immune to various diseases. The education and advice of the physiotherapists are also critical and greatly contribute to people's health by preventing and even managing the diseases [9].…”

“…The role of the physiotherapist is varied and rarely for the two days the same, and on the other hand, the physiotherapist has been assessing the conditions of the patients for the purpose of diagnosing treatment plan and diagnosing the problem. The role of education is significant in physiotherapy because the physiotherapists have been spending a huge amount of time educating the patient's communities to prevent injuries and help the people to achieve a healthy lifestyle [9].…”