Self-referral, access and physiotherapy: patients’ knowledge and attitudes—results of a national trial

ObjectivesTo identify service users’ views and attitudes to access, physiotherapy and patient-autonomous health-seeking behaviours.Study designMixed qualitative and quantitative questionnaire.SettingTwenty-six locations representing a range of socio-economic and geographical settings throughout Scotland.ParticipantsThree thousand and ten patients over 16 years of age.MethodsPostal questionnaires containing a mix of open and closed questions, attitude statements and free text for comments were sent to all consenting patients 4 weeks after discharge from physiotherapy. Responses were analysed by referral group: self-referred patients; patients referred by their general practitioner (GP); and patients referred at the suggestion of their GP.ResultsA response rate of 72% (2177/3010) was achieved. Males, females and all age groups were represented. Strong support for the effectiveness of physiotherapy was reported by all groups (>90%). Despite more than 80% of respondents claiming that they were able to confidently predict when they needed physiotherapy, less than 23% reported being knowledgeable or very knowledgeable about physiotherapy, with no significant association between level of knowledge and referral group (P = 0.129). Self-referred patients were more satisfied (P < 0.001), more supportive of being able to self-refer (83% vs 69% of GP-referred patients and 71% of patients referred at the suggestion of their GP), and more supportive of physiotherapists making decisions about their fitness for work or activities (59% vs 53% of GP-referred patients and 53% of patients referred at the suggestion of their GP).ConclusionsPhysiotherapy was regarded positively by all referral groups, particularly by self-referred patients, despite there being a distinct lack of knowledge about the profession. There is a clear need to raise awareness and knowledge of physiotherapy if autonomous health-seeking behaviours are to be encouraged and self-referral schemes progressed appropriately.