Perception of tertiary care clients toward the availability of physical therapy service at primary health care centers in Saudi Arabia: a cross-sectional survey.
Hani Al-Abbad, Sanaa Madi
PMID 32425349WHAT IT FOUND
Seventy-five percent of clients referred to a tertiary PT clinic in Saudi Arabia wanted PT at nearby primary care centers, mainly for faster access and less travel.
They doubted PHC had skilled therapists, equipment, or wheelchair-accessible buildings.
Key findings
01Seventy-five percent of clients preferred PT service at PHC centers near their residence.
02More than 80% said PT at PHC could help treat their current condition, while 68.7% agreed or strongly agreed it would reduce medication need.
03Participants said PHC buildings were not designed for wheelchair users and skilled PT staff were lacking.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTs
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What it does not show
The participants were selected by convenience sampling from clients receiving or referred to physical therapy at a tertiary hospital, so the views may not represent the general Saudi population. The questionnaire was written by the authors and given in a physical therapy setting, which may have influenced answers. Participants' understanding of primary, secondary, and tertiary care was not measured. Only 261 participants completed the open-ended questions, while 412 were analysed. The study reports perceptions and barriers, not patient outcomes or tested effectiveness.
Declared interests
No funding was reported, and the authors declared no competing interests.
The easy way to misread this
Do not conclude that physical therapy at primary health care centers has been shown to improve patient outcomes. This was a survey of clients already referred to physical therapy, and it reported preferences and perceived barriers, not treatment results.