The utilization of chest physiotherapy services at the University teaching hospital of Butare in Rwanda

Abstract

Worldwide respiratory problems are one of the common causes of acute and chronic diseases of the respiratory system that result in activity limitation and participation restriction. It hypothesized that more patients suffering from respiratory problems could benefit from chest physiotherapy (CPT) at the University Teaching Hospital of Butare in Rwanda than during the past situation. Thus, the main purpose of this study was to investigate the utilization of, and the need for chest physiotherapy at the UTH of Butare, in Rwanda. The objectives were: (i) To determine the prevalence of respiratory problems from a selected sample of patients at UTH of Butare in 2006; (ii) To determine the monthly referral rate of patients with respiratory problems for chest physiotherapy during 2006; (iii) To determine the trends in patient referrals for CPT by physicians at UTH; and (iv) To determine factors associated with patient referral to, and utilization of CPT. A retrospective study design, using a quantitative and descriptive research method was chosen. Medical files of patients and the register of patients treated in the physiotherapy department during 2006 were analysed. Systematic random sampling was used to select 716 files. A self -administered questionnaire (with closed-ended questions) was used to determine patient referral trends for chest physiotherapy among physicians at the UTH. Most of the physicians (75%) referred between I and 5 patients per week and most (95%) of physicians indicated their need to know more about CPT. Ethical issues relating to confidentiality of information were respected by the researcher. Descriptive statistics were employed to analyse the nominal data collected from a sample of 700 patients which found that44.6Yo (n:312) had positive respiratory signs with only 8.3% (n= 58) being referred for CPT during 2006. Only 56 patients had received CPT during 2006.The results could lead to more patients with respiratory problems being referred for chest physiotherapy by the medical staff. It could also motivate physiotherapists to market this area of service among the different health professions at the UTH of Butare.