DEMOGRAPHIC CROSS-SECTIONAL SURVEY REPORT ON PUBLIC PERCEPTION OF PHYSIOTHERAPY
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Keywords
Physiotherapy, Extended scope of physiotherapy, chiropractors
Abstract
Introduction :- The aging population and the rise in chronic illnesses have increased the demand for physical therapists and physiotherapy services. However, the general public’s understanding of physiotherapy is limited, affecting self-referral and the utilization of these services. An Extended Scope of Physiotherapy (ESP) can serve as a first point of contact practitioner for patients with musculoskeletal (MSK) conditions, independently and successfully
Aim :-This cross-sectional survey to assess public perception and awareness of physiotherapy in metro city,town and village regions. The study also explores the public’s opinion on the Extended Scope of Physiotherapy (ESP) in different settings
Material and method :-The study was conducted in three hospitals located in a metro city, town, and village, with a total of 384 respondents. The investigator approached individuals one-on-one and requested them to complete the survey. The survey instrument utilized in this investigation was a closed-ended questionnaire created for a prior study. There are two sections in the questionnaire. First portion covers (a) Awareness of chiropractic and physiotherapy and (b)treatment for sports and spinal injuries using chiropractic and physiotherapy. Second portion part includes Questionnaire on Extended Scope of Physiotherapy (ESP). (a) The investigative hierarchy.( b.) Give steroid injections and/or independently recommend drugs for MSK disorders in the hamlet and town, such as analgesics or anti-inflammatory drugs
Statistical Analysis Data:- were collected and statistically analysed using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) software version 28.0. The level of significance of this study was set to p-value <0.05.
Result :- The results showed varying degrees of awareness about physiotherapy, with 57% and 50% of respondents being somewhat or very familiar with the term “physio” respectively. The majority recognized physiotherapy for treating musculoskeletal conditions. However, the awareness of physiotherapy’s role in treating other conditions and its extended scope of practice (ESP) was limited. For sports and back injuries, 63% and 23% of respondents in the metro city chose physiotherapy, while in the village, these figures were 19% and 26% respectively. The public response on ESP was overwhelmingly positive, with 90% in the town and 86% in the village responding “Yes definitely”. Conclusion :- The study concludes that while physiotherapy is recognized for treating musculoskeletal conditions, there is a need for targeted marketing initiatives to increase public awareness about the full scope of physiotherapy services, especially in rural areas.
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Nishant Kumar bali
Associate professor department of Orthopaedic, (physiotherapy) Rama medical college, Hapur.
Prabhu Ram Krishnapandian
Physiotherapist , Head of department, Kriston Healthcare,Chennai-600102, India
Deepak Raghav
Professor/ principal Santosh, college of physiotherapy, Santosh medical and, Dental College.
Tanvi Agarwal
Professor Santosh college of physiotherapy, Santosh medical and Dental College.