The knowledge, attitudes and perceptions of physiotherapists and chiropractors in South Africa
South African Journal of Physiotherapy
| Field | Value | |
| Title | The knowledge, attitudes and perceptions of physiotherapists and chiropractors in South Africa | |
| Creator | Ravidutt, Micaela Maharaj, Sonill | |
| Description | Background: Effective healthcare delivery occurs when health professionals collaborate and provide holistic, patient-centred care. Physiotherapists and chiropractors treat a common range of patients with an overlap in their scope of practice and modalities because of typical healthcare roles that could lead to ‘perceived’ animosity.Objectives: To assess the knowledge, attitudes, and perceptions of qualified chiropractors and physiotherapists regarding each other’s practice.Method: A cross-sectional survey using an online questionnaire and analysed descriptively.Results: Participants were chiropractors (n = 116) and physiotherapists (n = 190). Chiropractors achieved a mean knowledge score of 75.7%, with physiotherapists at 59.7% on the assessments of each other’s patients; an average score of 85.3% and 72.0% respectively, on knowledge of treatment modalities; knowledge score of 82.4% and 77.3% respectively, on the conditions treated by the other professional. A total of 82.8% (n = 96) of chiropractors and 70.0% (n = 133) of physiotherapists indicated the other professionals’ competence in treating neuromusculoskeletal conditions. Inter-professional referrals occurred between 81.9% of chiropractors (n = 95) and 55.3% of physiotherapists (n = 105). Chiropractors (69.0%, n = 80) and physiotherapists (55.3%, n = 105) wanted to collaborate to manage patients.Conclusion: In the surveyed population in South Africa, chiropractors and physiotherapists had good knowledge, positive attitudes and perceptions of each other’s practices, especially in the private sector.Clinical implications: Inter-professional collaboration between chiropractors and physiotherapists should be encouraged so that healthcare delivery can be holistic and patient-centred for better clinical outcomes. | |
| Publisher | AOSIS | |
| Date | 2024-02-29 | |
| Identifier | 10.4102/sajp.v80i1.1922 | |
| Source | South African Journal of Physiotherapy; Vol 80, No 1 (2024); 9 pages 2410-8219 0379-6175 | |
| Language | eng | |
| Relation |
The following web links (URLs) may trigger a file download or direct you to an alternative webpage to gain access to a publication file format of the published article:
https://sajp.co.za/index.php/sajp/article/view/1922/3532
https://sajp.co.za/index.php/sajp/article/view/1922/3533
https://sajp.co.za/index.php/sajp/article/view/1922/3534
https://sajp.co.za/index.php/sajp/article/view/1922/3536
https://sajp.co.za/index.php/sajp/article/view/1922/3535
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