Keep/refer decision making abilities and screening for serious pathologies as integral components of the physiotherapy education and profession: The perspective of Austrian physicians

Lackenbauer, Wolfgang, Janssen, Jessica orcid iconORCID: 0000-0002-5961-2736, Roddam, Hazel orcid iconORCID: 0000-0002-0637-1801 and Selfe, James (2019) Keep/refer decision making abilities and screening for serious pathologies as integral components of the physiotherapy education and profession: The perspective of Austrian physicians. Physioscience, 15 (01). pp. 28-36. ISSN 1860-3092

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Official URL: https://doi.org/10.1055/a-0833-1759

Abstract

Background: Over the last few years, several surveys examined the attitude of physiotherapists towards direct access, increased practice autonomy and the necessity to detect the presence of serious pathologies.
Objective: To gain insight into the attitude of Austrian physicians towards Austrian physiotherapists taking more responsibility when making clinical decisions.
Method: In autumn 2017, an online survey was distributed by e-mail among 1000 general practitioners and 395 orthopaedic surgeons working in private practice in Austria.
Results: 76 general practitioners (7.6%) and 40 orthopaedic surgeons (10%) completed the survey. 90% of responding general practitioners and 68% of participating orthopaedic surgeons believe that Austrian physiotherapists should make autonomous keep/refer decisions.
Conclusion: Study participants are overwhelmingly positive towards Austrian physiotherapists taking an advanced level of practice autonomy and make independent keep/refer decisions.


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