Familiarity with, knowledge, and utilization of standardized outcome measures among physiotherapists in Nigeria

Abstract

Measurement tools that assess changes in patients' clinical status are called outcome measures and their integration into clinical practice promotes objective assessment and evidence-based practice. Healthcare providers' knowledge andfamiliarity with outcome measures are pertinent to their utilization. The purpose of this descriptive survey study was to determine the levels offamiliarity, knowledge and utilization of 16 standardized outcome measures (SOM) among physiotherapists in Nigeria. A 3-part questionnaire was administered (N = 236). Part 1 elicited demographic information, Part 2 assessedfamiliarity and utilization and Part 3 assessed knowledge of the SOM. Results indicated that over 60% of the respondents had never used and were not familiar with 14 out of the 16 SOM, indicating low levels of utilization and familiarity among respondents. Respondents' knowledge about the SOM was low (3.1 +/- 2.5), and correlated positively and significantly (p < 0.05) with their levels offamiliarity with and utilization of the SOM. Working experience had a positive influence on knowledge about SOM, but influence of work setting on familiarity, utilization, and knowledge about SOM was inconclusive. This study suggests that physiotherapists in Nigeria have poor knowledge, seldom utilize, and are unfamiliar with SOM and that the use of SOM should be promoted among them.

Nigerian physiotherapists’ perceptions of their profession’s prestige and implications

“…There were more male than female participants in this study. This implies that there are probably more male than female physiotherapists in Nigeria, and it corroborates the finding of a previous study [12]. Most respondents were working in tertiary and secondary health institutions.…”

“…This finding supports the observation that in Nigeria, most physiotherapists work in government facilities, especially university teaching hospitals and state/general hospital. Only a small proportion of physiotherapists in Nigeria practise in primary health care centres, private clinics, or industries [12]. Although physiotherapy practice was introduced into the country in the 1940s, it was only in the 1980s that private physiotherapy services became available, and only a few exist to date.…”

Factors Influencing Number of Physiotherapy Treatment Sessions for Patients with Low Back Pain

“…This finding is in line with the practice of physiotherapists in developed countries like New Zealand, Canada, Scotland, England, United States of America and Australia (Copeland et al, 2008). Akinpelu and Eluchie (2006), in their study exploring the familiarity with, knowledge and utilization of standardized outcome measures among physiotherapists in Nigeria, concluded that the use of outcome measures among physiotherapists in Nigeria is limited. While the present study is specific to the use of outcome measures in the treatment of patients with LBP, the study by Akinpelu and Eluchie was on the general use of outcome measures by physiotherapists in Nigeria.…”

A survey on the use of outcome measures by musculoskeletal physiotherapist’s in India

“…There are studies that explore the usage of OMs in: the United States (Jette et al, 2009;Russek, Wooden, Ekedahl, and Bush, 1997); the United Kingdom (Turner-Stokes and Turner-Stokes, 1997); Canada (Huijbregts, Myers, Kay, and Gavin, 2002;Kay, Myers, and Huijbregts, 2001;Mayo et al, 1993); Australia (Abrams et al, 2006); Nigeria (Akinpelu and Eluchie, 2006); South Africa (Inglis, Faure, and Frieg, 2008); New Zealand (Copeland, Taylor, and Dean, 2008); and other western European countries (Haigh et al, 2001;Torenbeek, Caulfield, Garrett, and Van Harten, 2001), but the extent to which Indian physiotherapists use OMs in their clinical practice has not been studied. There is no published research that explores the use of OMs in India, barriers to their use and its relevance in clinical practice.…”