Awareness About the Necessity of Vestibular Rehabilitation Education Among Physical Therapists Working in Saudi Arabia
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Keywords
Vestibular Rehabilitation, Education, Physical Therapists, Saudi Arabia
Abstract
Background: A physical therapist plays an integral role in vestibular rehabilitation, which is a form of therapy that addresses problems related to the inner ear and brain structures that control balance and coordination.
Objective: This study aimed to report the awareness about the necessity of vestibular rehabilitation education and the satisfaction with the current vestibular rehabilitation situation among physical therapists working in Saudi Arabia.
Methods: A self-administered online questionnaire consisted of two sections: one contained demographic information, and the other had questions related to the knowledge and education of physical therapists regarding vestibular rehabilitation in the country, as well as the experience and satisfaction of physical therapists.
Results: A total of 235 participants participated in the online survey conducted between September and December of 2022. This study found that most participants (85.96%) learned about vestibular rehabilitation from courses, workshops, and lectures. A little more than half of the participants (56.60%) reported never seeing vestibular referral cases, whereas less than half (46.15%) rarely examined and treated patients with vestibular disorders. The majority of the participants (65.53%) reported that a lack of knowledge, lack of referrals, and lack of equipment prevented them from performing vestibular examinations. Furthermore, the majority of participants (59.57%) are not satisfied with the current vestibular rehabilitation situation.
Conclusion: The current study reported that there is a lack of knowledge, referrals, and equipment that prevent Saudi Arabian physical therapists from performing vestibular examinations which results in dissatisfaction with the current vestibular rehabilitation situation.
References
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