Current characteristics of patients seeking consultation at the physiotherapy outpatient department at Dhulikhel hospital, Nepal - A cross-sectional study

Abstract

Background: The last decade there has been tremendous changes concerning health, both in the world and Nepal. From primarily infectious disease, it is now a majority of persons facing the burden of noncommunicable diseases (NCDs). In order to tackle the increasing level of NCDs, physiotherapy (PT) has been suggested as giving benefits as part of the health care service. Compared to studies looking at patient characteristics in physiotherapy in HIC, there are few, if any, studies conducted in LIC. Objective: The present study describes patients’ characteristics at the outpatient department in Dhulikhel hospital, through demographic variables, pain characteristics, health problems and expectations to physiotherapy. The purpose is to increase knowledge about the patient population in a LIC, to further develop and inform treatments in the future. Methode: A cross-sectional descriptive study, using survey interviews with set alternatives. 100 patients, 57 women and 43 men were recruited to the study. The questions concerned demographic variables, pain assessment, physical activity level and expectation to treatment. Results: Patients have an average age of 40 years, slightly more women than men, living in both rural and urban areas of the district. The majority are lacking education and the most common expectation to physiotherapy treatment was a passive form, mainly massage followed by medicine/drugs. Conclusion: This study suggests that the patients seeking consultation at the physiotherapy outpatient department at Dhulikhel hospital are relatively young, with a higher representation of females. They are representing both rural and urban areas of the district, and the majority are lacking education. Lower back pain is the most frequent area of pain, and health problems in Nepal confirms the higher risk of developing NCDs. The patients are expecting a passive form of treatment. Future studies on this topic are needed in order to get more advanced knowledge within this field