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Alshehri MA, Alhasan H, Alayat M, Al-Subahi M, Yaseen K, Ismail A, Tobaigy A, Almalki O, Alqahtani A, Fallata B. Factors affecting the extent of utilization of physiotherapy services by physicians in Saudi Arabia. J Phys Ther Sci 2018; 30:216-222. [PMID: 29545681 PMCID: PMC5851350 DOI: 10.1589/jpts.30.216] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2017] [Accepted: 11/07/2017] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
[Purpose] To investigate physicians’ attitudes, opinions and experiences towards
physiotherapy services as well as to identify the potential factors that may affect the
extent of utilization of physiotherapy services (based on physicians’ beliefs) in Saudi
Arabia (SA). [Subjects and Methods] A cross-sectional study was conducted. [Results] A
total of 108 respondents met the inclusion criteria. The respondents’ attitude towards
physiotherapy was slightly low (53.5%), while their opinions and experiences of
physiotherapy indicated some important issues. For example, 50% of them believed that
physiotherapists did not create a good awareness about physiotherapy services and 55.5%
admitted that they did not have enough information about physiotherapy services. The most
potential factor reported by physicians that may affect the extent of utilization of
physiotherapy services was the lack of physiotherapist’s skills and knowledge to assess
and treat patients (55.3%), followed by the limited knowledge of physicians regarding the
types of physiotherapy services (44.5%) and the lack of cooperation between physicians and
physiotherapists (40.7%). [Conclusion] There were some factors that limited the extent of
utilization of physiotherapy services in SA. Physiotherapy academics and clinicians should
attempt to change physicians’ negative attitudes, promoting awareness to provide them with
a better understanding of physiotherapy services.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mansour Abdullah Alshehri
- Physiotherapy Department, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, Umm Al-Qura University: PO Box 715, Postal Code 21421, Umm Al-Qura University, Makkah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Hammad Alhasan
- Physiotherapy Department, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, Umm Al-Qura University: PO Box 715, Postal Code 21421, Umm Al-Qura University, Makkah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Mohamed Alayat
- Department of Basic Sciences, Faculty of Physical Therapy, Cairo University, Egypt
| | - Moayad Al-Subahi
- Physiotherapy Department, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, Umm Al-Qura University: PO Box 715, Postal Code 21421, Umm Al-Qura University, Makkah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Khalid Yaseen
- Department of Physical Therapy, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, King Abdul Aziz University, Saudi Arabia
| | - Ayah Ismail
- Department of Physical Therapy, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, King Abdul Aziz University, Saudi Arabia
| | - Abdullah Tobaigy
- College of Medicine and Health, University College Cork, Ireland
| | - Obaid Almalki
- College of Medicine and Health, University College Cork, Ireland
| | - Abdulfattah Alqahtani
- Department of Health Rehabilitation Sciences, College of Applied Medical Sciences, King Saud University, Saudi Arabia
| | - Basmah Fallata
- Physiotherapy Department, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, Umm Al-Qura University: PO Box 715, Postal Code 21421, Umm Al-Qura University, Makkah, Saudi Arabia
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