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A Focus Group Study to Understand the Perspectives of Physiotherapists on Barriers and Facilitators to Advancing Rehabilitation in Low-Resource and Conflict Settings

A Focus Group Study to Understand the Perspectives of Physiotherapists on Barriers and Facilitators to Advancing Rehabilitation in Low-Resource and Conflict Settings
A Focus Group Study to Understand the Perspectives of Physiotherapists on Barriers and Facilitators to Advancing Rehabilitation in Low-Resource and Conflict Settings
Physiotherapy as a health profession is continuously evolving in high-income countries (HIC). The highest burden of disease globally, however, is in low-resource and conflict contexts (LR-CC), resulting in unmet rehabilitation needs. Rehabilitation service models from HIC often face challenges when applied to the fragile health systems of LR-CC. It is important to engage rehabilitation experts living and working in LR-CC to guide service development. This study aims to understand physiotherapists’ views and perspectives of current rehabilitation services, of how these services can be strengthened over the next 10 years and of the role of physiotherapy within this development. Focus group discussions (FGDs) were conducted with 31 physiotherapists from 18 LR-CC using English as a common language. Audio recordings were transcribed verbatim. Data analysis was guided by thematic analysis. Participants provided deep insights into the complexity of developing rehabilitation services within fragile health systems. Participants agreed that physiotherapy lacked recognition and resources to be utilised effectively. Interacting themes as crucial prerequisites for strengthening the sector included (1) significance of context, (2) professional identity, and (3) professionalisation supported by workforce development and advocacy. These results are an important evidence base for informing the development of rehabilitation programmes in LR-CC and for future research
1660-4601
Barth, Cornelia Anne
cbec548d-e7d9-45ee-80bd-7b966585f7cf
Donovan-hall, Maggie
5f138055-2162-4982-846c-5c92411055e0
Blake, Catherine
a6080d0b-27ba-4360-be56-a4e39543154e
Jahan Akhtar, Noor
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Capo-chichi, Joseph Martial
85922ea6-c075-45a8-aa96-24c3c1921959
O’sullivan, Cliona
3b0fc531-24c5-4198-855a-13bfa912238c
Barth, Cornelia Anne
cbec548d-e7d9-45ee-80bd-7b966585f7cf
Donovan-hall, Maggie
5f138055-2162-4982-846c-5c92411055e0
Blake, Catherine
a6080d0b-27ba-4360-be56-a4e39543154e
Jahan Akhtar, Noor
45ce9128-e8fd-4fb3-9e48-9ee9b55e49e8
Capo-chichi, Joseph Martial
85922ea6-c075-45a8-aa96-24c3c1921959
O’sullivan, Cliona
3b0fc531-24c5-4198-855a-13bfa912238c

Barth, Cornelia Anne, Donovan-hall, Maggie, Blake, Catherine, Jahan Akhtar, Noor, Capo-chichi, Joseph Martial and O’sullivan, Cliona (2021) A Focus Group Study to Understand the Perspectives of Physiotherapists on Barriers and Facilitators to Advancing Rehabilitation in Low-Resource and Conflict Settings. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 18 (22), [12020]. (doi:10.3390/ijerph182212020).

Record type: Article

Abstract

Physiotherapy as a health profession is continuously evolving in high-income countries (HIC). The highest burden of disease globally, however, is in low-resource and conflict contexts (LR-CC), resulting in unmet rehabilitation needs. Rehabilitation service models from HIC often face challenges when applied to the fragile health systems of LR-CC. It is important to engage rehabilitation experts living and working in LR-CC to guide service development. This study aims to understand physiotherapists’ views and perspectives of current rehabilitation services, of how these services can be strengthened over the next 10 years and of the role of physiotherapy within this development. Focus group discussions (FGDs) were conducted with 31 physiotherapists from 18 LR-CC using English as a common language. Audio recordings were transcribed verbatim. Data analysis was guided by thematic analysis. Participants provided deep insights into the complexity of developing rehabilitation services within fragile health systems. Participants agreed that physiotherapy lacked recognition and resources to be utilised effectively. Interacting themes as crucial prerequisites for strengthening the sector included (1) significance of context, (2) professional identity, and (3) professionalisation supported by workforce development and advocacy. These results are an important evidence base for informing the development of rehabilitation programmes in LR-CC and for future research

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A Focus Group Study to Understand the Perspectives of Physiotherapists
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Accepted/In Press date: 13 November 2021
Published date: 16 November 2021

Identifiers

Local EPrints ID: 454214
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/454214
ISSN: 1660-4601
PURE UUID: b7cbedab-2d18-40d9-af94-0b116898b044

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Date deposited: 02 Feb 2022 17:51
Last modified: 16 Mar 2024 15:35

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Contributors

Author: Cornelia Anne Barth
Author: Catherine Blake
Author: Noor Jahan Akhtar
Author: Joseph Martial Capo-chichi
Author: Cliona O’sullivan

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