ABSTRACT

Year : 2022  |  Volume : 6  |  Issue : 2  |  Page : 74-75

Stroke Rehabilitation: AB No: 11: Identifying Post-Stroke Physiotherapy Practice in India using a Delphi approach

Harpreet Singh¹, Sampada Jahagirdar², Jaspreet Singh Vij^3
1 AIIMS, New Delhi
² Amar Jyoti Institute of Physiotherapy
³ BFUHS, Punjab

Correspondence Address:

Source of Support: None, Conflict of Interest: None

DOI: 10.4103/2456-7787.361071

Background: A competent workforce and a uniform code of practice are cornerstones of good quality healthcare. Knowledge of current practices is a prerequisite for quality of post stroke rehabilitation in India. It is thus, important to address and determine, on a regular basis, the competencies of physiotherapy clinicians delivering post stroke therapy. Purpose: To design a validated questionnaire for determining current physiotherapy practices that are utilized by Indian Physiotherapists involved in post stroke rehabilitation. Relevance: A strong objective evidence on current physiotherapy practices in India can determine the quality of post stroke care, help establish future guidelines and training programs. Participants: Nine expert physiotherapists practicing in the field of stroke rehabilitation pan India, including both clinicians & academicians were selected by convenience samplingMethods: A total of 40 practice competencies were listed in a questionnaire format by the Authors from the literature. This list was then validated by a panel of expert Neuro-physiotherapists within India using a Delphi process. A minimum of 80% agreement amongst the experts was considered to essential for a competency to be finally included in the survey questionnaire. Analysis: Content validity of the questionnaire was established by Lawshe’s method. Results: Three rounds of Delphi process were necessitated to reach a consensus on the final set of 29 competencies. The competencies were then categorized in ‘Quality of care’, Assessment and treatment’ and ‘updating of knowledge’ domains. Implications: This questionnaire will help evaluate current physiotherapy practices of Indian physiotherapists delivering post-stroke therapy. Based on the knowledge gained through this, uniform practice guidelines can be laid down for improved quality of care in future.

Keywords: Stroke, Physiotherapy, Competency, Current practices