Facilitators and Barriers for Using Outcome Measuring Tools in Physical Therapy Practice

Objective: The study was conducted toascertain the percentage of physiotherapist who were utilizing the outcome measures during the treatment of patients and to find the factors which were potentiating the physiotherapists in implementing the outcome measuring tools in the treatment of their patients. On the other hand, such factors were also looked into which were considered as obstacles by the physiotherapists in the use of the tools. Methodology: The estimated study population size was 242. Data was collected through e-mail as well as through one-on-one meeting with the physiotherapists by using a standard questionnaire (appendix I) and was analyzed through SPSS version 20. Results: It was found that 78 percent of the study participants were using the outcome measures in the assessments of the patients and for finding the progression in their condition. The feeling of the patient about the keen involvement of the physiotherapist in his treatment, enhanced communication between two of them and increased efficiency of examination were the major facilitators which urged the physiotherapists to use outcome measures in their practice. The most frequent barriers seen were the duration required by physiotherapist to analyze the score and duration of patient to complete it. Conclusion: The main facilitators are increased communication between physiotherapist and patient and enhanced the efficacy of assessment. Alternatively, the main barriers restricting the usage of outcome measures are reported to be the inability to complete the various assessment tools due to the lack of time on the part of the patient as well as the physical therapist.