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Title: COMPARISON OF COMPETENCY LEVELS AMONG PHYSICAL THERAPISTS PRACTICING IN PUBLIC AND PRIVATE HEALTH CARE CENTERS OF FAISALABAD, PAKISTAN
Authors: Anbreena Rasool, Zainab Tahir, Inza Mukhtar, Munazza Fatima, Zunaira Riaz, Fatima Hussain
Journal: Insights-Journal of Health and Rehabilitation
| Category | From | To |
|---|---|---|
| Y | 2024-10-01 | 2025-12-31 |
Publisher: Health And Research Insights (SMC-Private) Limited
Country: Pakistan
Year: 2024
Volume: 2
Issue: 2
Language: English
DOI: 10.71000/ijhr118
Keywords: CompetencyFaisalabadexperienceCross-sectional studiesQuestionnairesHealth facilitiesPhysical therapists
Background: Competency among physical therapists is critical to delivering high-quality, patient-centered care. Public and private healthcare centers offer differing environments and resources that may influence therapists’ skill development and experience levels. Public centers often provide broader patient exposure, while private centers may emphasize specialized skills. This study aimed to evaluate and compare the competency levels of physical therapists practicing in public and private healthcare settings in Faisalabad, Pakistan, to provide insights that could enhance training and professional development in these environments.
Objective: To assess and compare the competency levels of physical therapists working in public versus private healthcare centers in Faisalabad, Pakistan, using the Physical Therapy Profile Questionnaire (PTPQ).
Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted across various healthcare facilities in Faisalabad. After initial screening, 108 physical therapists were selected through purposive sampling. Inclusion criteria focused on active clinical practice with at least one year of experience. The PTPQ was employed to evaluate competencies, examining areas such as clinical experience, education level, and treatment preferences. Data analysis included frequency distribution and associations between affiliation, education level, and experience.
Results: Among 108 participants, private healthcare centers accounted for 85 therapists, with 36 holding a Master’s degree, compared to 8 in public centers. In terms of experience, 2 public healthcare therapists had over 10 years of experience, while only 1 private healthcare therapist had similar experience. Public centers also had 11 therapists with under 2 years of experience, compared to 47 in private centers. Additionally, 5 public and 21 private therapists had 5–10 years of experience. Public sector therapists demonstrated significantly higher levels of patient exposure.
Conclusion: While physical therapists in private healthcare centers demonstrated higher competency in specific skills, those in public centers gained broader clinical experience through diverse patient interactions. This comparison highlights the complementary strengths of each setting, suggesting that combining elements of both could enhance training programs for physical therapists.
To assess and compare the competency levels of physical therapists working in public versus private healthcare centers in Faisalabad, Pakistan, using the Physical Therapy Profile Questionnaire (PTPQ).
A cross-sectional study was conducted in Faisalabad, Pakistan, involving 108 physical therapists selected through purposive sampling. Participants had at least one year of active clinical practice. The Physical Therapy Profile Questionnaire (PTPQ) was used to evaluate competencies, including clinical experience, education level, and treatment preferences. Data analysis involved frequency distribution and assessment of associations between healthcare sector affiliation, education level, and experience.
graph TD;
A["Recruit 108 Physical Therapists >= 1 year experience"] --> B["Administer Physical Therapy Profile Questionnaire - PTPQ"];
B --> C["Data Analysis: Frequency Distribution & Associations"];
C --> D["Compare Competency Levels: Public vs. Private Centers"];
D --> E["Formulate Conclusions and Discussion"];
The study suggests that while private sector physical therapists may exhibit higher competency in specific skills, potentially due to strategic management approaches, public sector therapists gain broader clinical experience through diverse patient interactions. This indicates complementary strengths in each setting. The findings align with some previous research suggesting potential advantages in strategic planning and self-management in private sectors, while also acknowledging the importance of foundational competencies across both. Limitations included limited participation, busy schedules of therapists, and underrepresentation of public healthcare perspectives due to a declined data collection request.
- 85 out of 108 physical therapists practiced in private healthcare centers, while 23 practiced in public centers.
- Private centers had more therapists with Master's degrees (36) compared to public centers (8).
- Public centers had more therapists with over 10 years of experience (2) compared to private centers (1).
- Private centers had a higher number of therapists with less than two years of experience (47) compared to public centers (11).
- Public sector therapists demonstrated significantly higher levels of patient exposure.
Physical therapists in private healthcare centers tend to have higher competency in specialized skills, whereas those in public healthcare settings gain broader clinical experience due to diverse patient exposure. Combining elements from both settings could enhance physical therapy training programs.
- Number of participants: 108 physical therapists were sampled. (Confirmed in Methods and Results)
- Majority affiliation: 85 participants were from private healthcare centers. (Confirmed in Results)
- Public sector experience: 2 public healthcare therapists had over 10 years of experience. (Confirmed in Results)
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