Hani Al-Abbad
King Fahad Medical City, Saudi Arabia
Posters & Accepted Abstracts: Primary Health Care
Background: Integration of physical therapy services in primary care settings has become a topic of considerable international interest. Current trends in health care show an increasing move of physical therapy services from tertiary care towards primary care settings. However, this trend has not yet extended to primary care centers in Saudi Arabia. A Recent Ministry of Health report in 2011 showed that movement related impairments were the second most common reason for patients visiting primary care centers accounting for 2.3 million visits. Objective: To explore the views of the physical therapy service leaders in Saudi Arabia regarding the integration of physical therapy service in primary care settings. Methods: A self-administered questionnaire consisting of both open and closed ended questions was distributed via email to physical therapy leaders representing different regions and health care providers of Saudi Arabia. Results: 26 participants answered the questionnaire. Eighty five percent of the sample had ΓΆΒ?Β¥10 years of experience with 57.6% of them holding a Post-Graduate degree. Participants were from different health care providers and represented all five geographical regions of Saudi Arabia. Eighty one percent of the sample reported that the adoption of physical therapy service in primary health care would be advantageous, as it offers earlier access to health care and is more cost-effective. The respondents also stated such a service would contribute towards the prevention of common non-communicable health diseases. Conclusion: This survey generally provides positive recommendations for the adoption of physical therapy service in Saudi Arabia primary care. However, issues raised by this study require consideration during the development of such service.
