Integrating physiotherapy into primary health care in Nigeria: Perceptions of primary health care practitioners.

The perception of Primary Health Care (PHC) practitioners about integrating physiotherapy into PHC in Nigeria is still unknown. The aim of this study was to examine the knowledge and attitude of PHC practitioners in Nigeria regarding the integration of physiotherapy into PHC. The participants in this cross-sectional study were 183 PHC practitioners (physicians, nurses, and community health workers). A content-validated, semi-structured questionnaire was used to obtain information about history of exposure to physiotherapy, knowledge, and attitudes toward integrating physiotherapy into PHC. Data was analyzed using Pearson's product moment correlation and Analysis of Variance at α = 0.05. Participants were mostly females (n = 154; 84.2%) and aged 39.97 ± 9.38 years. The mean years of work experience was 14.41 ± 8.68 years. Participants had limited knowledge about the role and scope of physiotherapy but were willing to learn more about physiotherapy. Less than half of the participants however, had favorable attitude toward integrating physiotherapy into PHC. Knowledge differed significantly across healthcare professions (p < .05) and was significantly correlated with attitude (p < .01). Our findings underscore the importance of interprofessional education and teamwork among healthcare providers. This might enhance understanding, modify attitudes and facilitate the inclusion of physiotherapy into PHC in Nigeria. Additionally, this could improve access to physiotherapy services for Nigerians.

Drivers of cost of treatment for traumatic spinal cord injury in ibadan, Nigeria

Background:Traumatic Spinal Cord Injury (TSCI) is a costly condition in human and economic terms. Yet, studies on direct cost of treatment for TSCI in resource-constraint countries are sparse.Objective:To estimate the direct cost of treatment for patients with TSCI at the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan, Nigeria using an incidence-based costing approache Methods:All new cases of TSCI admitted in the hospital from January, 2009 to December, 2013 were identified and reviewed. Direct costs of in-patient and out-patient treatments over the first year of injury were estimated.Results:114 individuals with TSCI (73 males; 41 females) were admitted and discharged home alive from the hospital. The largest cost driver to the patients and the National Health Insurance Scheme was cost of consultations by neurosurgeons which constituted about a third (34.4%) of the total costs of treatment. Less than a fourth (24.2%) of the total cost of in-patient treatment was spent on therapeutic interventions (surgery, drugs and physiotherapy). There was a significant relationship between the direct cost of treatment and each of the severity of traumatic spinal cord injury and length of hospital stay (p = 0.01). Level of injury was not significantly associated with direct cost of treatment (p=0.89).Conclusion:Direct cost of treatment for individuals with TSCI in Ibadan, Nigeria is substantial. This high cost underscores the need for novel service models with potential for minimizing cost for patients with TSCI in Nigeria

Relationships Between Community Reintegration and Clinical and Psychosocial Attributes in Individuals With Spinal Cord Injury in a Nigerian City.

Background: The bio-psychosocial model for comprehensive understanding of community reintegration among individuals with spinal cord injury (SCI) varies across communities. Yet, information about community reintegration in Nigeria is not available. Objective: To investigate the association between community reintegration and clinical and psychosocial attributes among Nigerians with SCI. Methods: Fifty individuals (31 females; 19 males) with SCI aged 38.6 ± 11.1 years participated in this longitudinal survey. Pain, functional ability, and severity of injury were assessed at discharge and at 1, 2, and 3 months post-discharge from inpatient care using the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), FIM®, and American Spinal Injury Association Impairment Scale (AIS), respectively. Self-esteem (SE), social support (SS), and depression were also assessed using the Self-Esteem Questionnaire, Social Support Questionnaire, and Beck Depression Inventory, respectively. CR was assessed at 1, 2, and 3 months post-discharge using the Reintegration to Normal Living Index (RNLI). Data were analyzed using Spearman's rho correlation and Friedman test. Results: The psychosocial and clinical attributes were significantly different from baseline and across the 3 months post-discharge (p < .0001), except for SS. CR significantly correlated with level of injury, function ability, SE, and depression across the 3 months post-discharge (p < .01). CR was significantly correlated with SS only at 1 month post-discharge (p = .027). Conclusion: Individuals with SCI had significant improvement in clinical and psychosocial attributes from discharge to 3 months post-discharge. Improvements in these variables were associated with better reintegration into the community.

Utilization of physiotherapy in the continuum of stroke care at a tertiary hospital in Ibadan, Nigeria.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the pattern of referral for and utilisation of physiotherapy in the continuum of stroke care at a tertiary hospital in Ibadan, Nigeria. METHODS: Referral notes and medical records of patients admitted in the University College Hospital, Ibadan with a clinical diagnosis of stroke between January, 2009 and December, 2013 were retrospectively reviewed. Information on age, sex, type of stroke, length of hospital stay, referral for physiotherapy and utilisation of physiotherapy were retrieved. Data were summarised using descriptive statistics and analysed using Chi-square test. RESULTS: A total of 783 patients with stroke were admitted in the hospital during the period under study. The in-patient mortality rate was 37.2%. The mean Length of Hospital Stay (LoHS) was 16.17±12.34 days. Referral rate for physiotherapy was high (75.8%) and the mean time from admission to referral for physiotherapy was three days. Majority of patients referred utilised physiotherapy (63.4%) and mean number of physiotherapy sessions received during in-patient care was 8.69±6.45. There was a significant association between LoHS and utilisation of in-patientphysiotherapy (p=0.02). CONCLUSION: The referral rate of stroke patients for physiotherapy was relatively high. Utilisation of in-patient physiotherapy reduced length of hospital stay among patients with stroke. Utilisation of out-patient physiotherapy was low. Strategies to enhance out-patient utilisation should be explored.