Department of Physical Therapy Faculty Articles
Physical Therapy as Primary Health Care: Public Perceptions
Publication Title
Journal of Allied Health
ISSN
0090-7421
Publication Date
1-2001
Keywords
Health Services Accessibility, Physical Therapy Modalities, Primary Health Care, Quality of Health Care
Abstract
This study investigated the public's knowledge of direct access and the role of physical therapists, and whether the public would consider using a physical therapist for primary care. Persons living in South Florida were selected at random by dialing telephone numbers. Using three-digit telephone number prefixes, four-digit suffixes were generated by rolling dice. When consent was obtained, the respondents' answers were recorded on a self-generated questionnaire. No knowledge of direct access was reported by 67.3% of the sample. Additionally, 57.4% of the sample had never been to a physical therapist. A substantial number of respondents (73.4%) stated that they would go directly to a physical therapist. Thus, the public poorly understands direct access and the role of the physical therapist. The members of the public might use physical therapists as primary care practitioners if they were aware of this option.
Volume
30
Issue
1
First Page
35
Last Page
38
Disciplines
Medicine and Health Sciences
NSUWorks Citation
Snow, B. L.; Shamus, E.; and Hill, Cheryl J., "Physical Therapy as Primary Health Care: Public Perceptions" (2001). Department of Physical Therapy Faculty Articles. 81.
https://nsuworks.nova.edu/hpd_pt_facarticles/81
