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A survey of the work practices of physiotherapists in the

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Abstract

The aim of this study was to find out what kind of physiotherapy service is available in the community. Two groups were studied (i) private practitioners and (ii) community physiotherapists employed by health boards. The results indicate that the private practitioners provide a service in the community to a mainly young, or middle-aged and mobile population. The conditions treated were mostly of an acute nature, viz. sports injuries, low back pain and whiplash injuries. The community physiotherapy service provided by the health boards served mainly the very young, i.e. 0-15 years and the elderly. The conditions seen were mostly long-term, viz. strokes and cerebral palsy. The community physiotherapist saw 50% of cases in the patient’s own home, while the private practitioners saw 93% of cases in the practice premises.

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References

  1. Irish Society of Chartered Physiotherapists’ Working Party Report 1989. Unpublished.

  2. The Years Ahead. A Policy for the Elderly. Report of the Working Party on Services for the Elderly. Government publications, 1988, p.98.

  3. Irish Society of Chartered Physiotherapy submission to the Dublin Hospital Initiative Group, 1989.

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Finn, A.M., MacAirt, J. A survey of the work practices of physiotherapists in the. I.J.M.S. 163, 61–64 (1994). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02943017

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02943017

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