New Findings in Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Medicine Described from Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University (Strategies to integrate physiotherapists into primary health care in South Africa): Health and Medicine – Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Medicine

2023 APR 13 (NewsRx) -- By a News Reporter-Staff News Editor at Disease Prevention Daily -- Data detailed on physical therapy and rehabilitation medicine have been presented. According to news reporting from Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University by NewsRx journalists, research stated, “Health services are inaccessible in low-income countries. The National Health Insurance (NHI) bill, linked to primary health care (PHC), was introduced in South Africa to improve access to health services.”

Our news correspondents obtained a quote from the research from Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University: “Physiotherapists contribute to healthcare and improve individuals’ health status across their lifespan. The South African healthcare system has many challenges: physiotherapists mostly practising at secondary and tertiary levels of care; a shortage of physiotherapists in the public health systems and rural areas; the omission of physiotherapy in health policies. To explore strategies to integrate physiotherapy services in PHC settings in South Africa. Our study used a qualitative, exploratory and descriptive approach to collect data from nine doctorate physiotherapists at South African universities. Data were thematically coded. The themes are to (1) improve societal knowledge of physiotherapy, (2) ensure policy representation of the profession, (3) transform physiotherapy education, (4) broaden the role of physiotherapy, (5) eradicate professional hierarchy and (6) increase the physiotherapy workforce.”

According to the news reporters, the research concluded: “Physiotherapy is not well known in South Africa. Physiotherapy is needed to feature in health policies to transform education focussing on disease prevention, health promotion and functioning in PHC. Broadening physiotherapy roles should consider the regulator’s ethical rules. Physiotherapists should proactively collaborate with other health professionals to dismantle professional hierarchies. Without addressing the urban-rural, private-public divide, the physiotherapy workforce cannot improve, to the detriment of PHC. Clinical implication: Implementing the suggested strategies may facilitate physiotherapy integration into PHC in South Africa.”

For more information on this research see: Strategies to integrate physiotherapists into primary health care in South Africa. South African Journal of Physiotherapy, 2023,79(1):e1-e8. (South African Journal of Physiotherapy - http://www.sajp.co.za). The publisher for South African Journal of Physiotherapy is AOSIS.

A free version of this journal article is available at https://doi.org/10.4102/sajp.v79i1.1796.

Our news editors report that more information may be obtained by contacting Sholena Narain, Department of Physiotherapy, Faculty of Health Sciences, Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University, Medunsa. Additional authors for this research include Desmond Mathye.

(Our reports deliver fact-based news of research and discoveries from around the world.)