Does the physiotherapy management of children with cerebral palsy differ between urban and rural public hospitals in KwaZulu-Natal? A physiotherapist's perspective. (3rd March 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Maharaj, Sonill S.; White, Tracey-Lee; Kaka, Bashir
• Is Part Of: European journal of physiotherapy. Volume 22:Number 2(2020)
• Page Start: 64
• Page End: 69
• Publication Date: 2020-03-03
• Subjects: Cerebral palsy -- urban and rural -- physiotherapy -- public hospitals KwaZulu-Natal; Therapeutics, Physiological -- Periodicals; Physical therapy -- Periodicals; 615.8205
• DOI: 10.1080/21679169.2018.1536892
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2167-9169

Abstract

Abstract: Aim: To identify whether there are differences in the physiotherapy management of children with cerebral palsy (CP) in urban and rural public hospitals in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) and if a multidisciplinary approach is used to manage these children. Methods: The study was a cross-sectional point-prevalence survey with participants recruited by means of purposive sampling. One hundred and fifty-two physiotherapists (PTs) employed at various levels of public hospitals in KZN volunteered to participate in the study. A self-designed two-section questionnaire was used to collect data and was analysed and presented using descriptive statistics. Results: Forty-one (56.9%) of the physiotherapists worked in rural hospitals and 31 (43.1%) were from urban hospitals. The large proportion of the rural based physiotherapists viz. 39 (95.1%) managed the CP children by means of a multidisciplinary team approach (MDT), predominantly once a month (21–51.2%) with 24 (77.4%) of the physiotherapists in urban hospitals indicated only a physiotherapy approach twice in a month (19–61.3%). Conclusion: This study revealed that the majority of rural-based physiotherapists managed children with CP using the MDT approach on a monthly basis. This differed when compared to urban based physiotherapists who managed children with CP individually and on a bi-monthly basis due to resource constraints.