ORIGINAL ARTICLE ISRA MEDICAL JOURNAL | Volume 6 - Issue 1 | Jan - Mar 2014

FUTURE OF PHYSICAL THERAPY IN PAKISTAN – SATISFACTION AMONGST PAKISTANI

PHYSICAL THERAPISTS ABOUT THEIR PROFESSION
MUHAMMAD NAVEED BABUR1, FARAH RASHID SIDDIQUE2, WAQAR AHMED AWAN3

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVES: To determine the level of satisfaction in Pakistani physical therapists about their profession as well as future prospects in
the field.
STUDY DESIGN: A cross sectional Survey.
PLACE AND DURATION: A structured Questionnaire was introduced to one hundred Physiotherapists selected through purposive
sampling technique for the study in Rawalpindi from different Physiotherapy institutions of Pakistan from June 2010 to August 2010.
Data was entered and analyzed using SPSS 17.
METHODOLOGY: A total of 100, (male 69 and 31 females) professional Physiotherapists were interviewed about their opinion
regarding their future and satisfaction in the physiotherapy profession. There were only 32% (n=32) PTs who were satisfied with their
professional growth and 68% (n=68) who were not satisfied with the professional growth in Pakistan.
RESULTS: A total of 100, (male 69 and 31 females) professional Physiotherapists were interviewed about their opinion regarding their
future and satisfaction in the physiotherapy profession. There were only 32% (n=32) PTs who were satisfied with their professional
growth and 68% (n=68) who were not satisfied with the professional growth in Pakistan.
CONCLUSION: Considerably low level of satisfaction was found amongst the participants regarding their earnings and quality of
education. Mostly the participants were hopeful in future to see their profession developed with the help of regulatory body and
empirical commitments from the government.
KEYWORDS: professionalism physical therapy (PPT), professional growth (PG), professional development (PD), physiotherapists (Pts).

INTRODUCTION
Physical Therapy or Physiotherapy is a healthcare profession, in
which Physical Therapist provides treatment to individuals for
developing, maintaining and restoring the maximum functional
capacity throughout life. The role of physical therapy to improve
functionality in circumstances where movement and function
are affected by aging, injury, disease or environmental factors.1
Physical Therapy includes physical, psychological, emotional,
2
and social well-being. In physical therapy interaction between
physical therapist (PT), patients/clients, other health
professionals, families, care givers, and communities is
important to assess functional potential and goals are set by
using knowledge and skills that are specific to physical
therapists.3
Human movement is considered as central to the health and
well-being of individuals in Physical therapy profession.5,6 There
lot of skills that are used to treat the movement disorders
includes, manual therapy, exercise therapy and the application
of electrotherapy. Work area for physiotherapists are
Outpatients Dept, Intensive care unit, Women's health, geriatric
health, Orthopedics, Occupational health, terminally ill,
Pediatrics, Neurological rehabilitation.7-9
Physiotherapists are needed in virtually every department, from
general out-patients to intensive care, where round-the-clock
chest physiotherapy can be vital to keep unconscious patients
breathing.10,11 There is also a need for physiotherapists in many
1. Principal,
Isra Institute of Rehabilitation Sciences.
2. Associate Professor of Community Medicine,
Yusra Medical & Dental College.
3. Assistant Professor of Physical Theropy,
Isra Institute of Rehabilitation Sciences.
Correspondence to:
Dr. Muhammad Naveed Babur
Principal of Isra Institute of Rehabilitation sciences,
Frash Town, Phase - II, Isra University, Islamabad.
E-Mail: naveedphysio@gmail.com
other places like Industry, Special schools, Leisure and sport
clubs.8 Nowadays, more and more physiotherapists work in the
community as treatment and advice for patients in their own
homes, in nursing homes or day centers, in schools and in health
centers.8-10 The personal qualities needed for this gratifying role
are tolerance, patience, compassion, and good communication
skills.12
Pakistan is a developing country here most of the health care
fields are under the process of development. Physical therapy is
amongst one of the neglected health care fields in Pakistan due
to lack of resources. In this field there are lack of educational and
job opportunities and no better future prospects.
Unfortunately, there is no central regulating authority in
Pakistan like there is for other health care professions such as;
Pakistan Medical & Dental College (PM&DC). In spite of that
local societies and associations like Pakistan physical therapy
association11 (PPTA) Pakistan physiotherapy society (PPS), and
charted society of Physical therapy12 (CSP) are working for their
professional growth and development in the country. These
organizations have their own limitations due to lack of funds,
proper leadership, and coordination among the professionals
and associations.
Imperative commitments are needed by the government and all
the other stakeholders to uplift the field of physiotherapy, save
the future of Pakistani physiotherapists and open new vistas for
international co operation.
METHODOLOGY
A Cross sectional study conducted in Rawalpindi from Different
Physiotherapy institutions of Pakistan from June-August 2010. A
structured Questionnaire was introduced to 100 physical
therapists selected through purposive sampling. All male and
female Physical therapists who have completed their entry level
degree and are in practice and below the age of 60 years were
included in the study. All male and female Physical therapists
who had not completed their entry level degree and were not in
practice and above the age of 60 years were excluded from the
study.
The data was analyzed using SPSS 17. The quantitative data was

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Muhammad Naveed Babur et al. ISRA MEDICAL JOURNAL | Volume 6 - Issue 1 | Jan - Mar 2014

presented as Mean +/- S.D along its range. The categorical data
was presented as frequencies and percentages. Chi-square test
was used to see the association between different categorical
variables. A p-value < 0.05 was considered as a significant.
Structured questioner like satisfaction with professional growth
in Pakistan, satisfaction with your earning, difficulties are being
faced by physiotherapists in Pakistan, satisfaction with
professional development so for and future of physiotherapy in
Pakistan included.
RESULTS
There were only 35% (n=35) PTs who were happy with the
efforts done so far, for professional growth in Pakistan, while
65% (n= 65) PTs were not happy with the efforts. (Figure - I)
There were only 43% (n=43) PTs who were satisfied with their
earning and 57% (n=57) PTs were not satisfied with their
earnings. The male physiotherapists were more satisfied with
their earnings as compared to females (p-value = 0.020 i.e. <
0.05).
Figure - III: Frequency distribution of “are you satisfied with your earning”
40
35 34

Among 100 professional Physiotherapist (PT) interviewed. The 30

average age of respondents was 28.11 ± 4.127 years with age

Frequency
23 Male
range 23-46 years. According to the duration of the job %(n=36) 20 Female
had 1 to 2 years of experience, 48% (n=48) had 3 to 4 years of
experience while 16% (n=16) people had more than 5 years of
experience at the time of interview. 10 8
Figure - I: Satisfaction with the efforts done for professional growth in
Pakistan 0
40 Yes No
Duration of jobs in years P-value= 0.020
31 The physiotherapists who had less job duration were less
30
satisfied as compare to those who had more job experience (p-
26 1-2 value = 0.000 i.e. < 0.05).
Count

3-4
20 Figure - IV: Frequency distribution of “are you satisfied with your earning”
17 >5
Duration of jobs
10 10 8 8 30 27
25 1-2
23 3-4
Frequency

0 20
>5
Yes No
P-value= 0.299
10 9 9 7
There were only 37% (n=37) PTs who wanted to be
physiotherapists by their own choice, 61% (n=61) were in this
profession because they did not qualify for other professions 0
and there were only two male physiotherapists who did not Yes No
P-value= 0.000
intend to practice after graduation which is why they were in
this profession. The choice of the profession was insignificant Regarding different barriers to professional development 33
with respect to gender (p-value = 0.302). %(n=33) PTs responded that “Lack of Professionals” is the
Table – I: Frequency Distribution of “Why you entered in this profession”
problem faced by the PTs in Pakistan, according to 53% (n=53),
the lack of opportunities was the main reasons and 14% (n=14)
Frequency Percent stated that lack of scholarship is the main difficulty in PT's
Wanted to be a Physiotherapist 37 37.0 profession.
Did not qualify for other profession 61 61.0 Table - II: Frequency Distribution of “According to you what we lack in
Did not intend to practice after graduation 2 2.0 professional development” (P-value= 0.02)
Total 100 100.0 Frequency Percent
There were only 32% (n=32) PTs who were satisfied with the Coordination between PT 40 40.0
professional growth in Pakistan, 68% (n=68) were not satisfied Proper inter disciplinary approach 36 36.0
with the professional growth in Pakistan. The satisfaction with Proper supervised training 24 24.0
the professional growth was independent of gender (p-value = Total 100 100.0
0.719).The satisfaction of the professional growth was also
statistically insignificant with the job experience (p-value =0.152 In addition 56% (n=56) PTs suggested that international
> 0.05). collaboration can help the profession to grow, 16% (n=16)
Figure - II: Frequency distribution of “are you satisfied with professional Figure - V: Frequency distribution of “According to you how our profession
growth in Pakistan” could grow in Pakistan”
50 40
47 Duration of jobs
40 30
30
Frequency

30 1-2
Frequency

Male 21 3-4
21 20
20 20 Female >5

11 10 11 13
10 7
5 4 5 4
0 0
International Research Evidence Based
Yes No Don’t Know Collaboration Development Knowledge
P-value= 0.719 P-value= 0.022

26
Muhammad Naveed Babur et al.
suggested that research and development can facilitate their
professions and according to 28% (n=28) PTs the evidence based
knowledge through audio visual system can promote the
profession in Pakistan. The opinion regarding growth of the
profession due to the international collaboration was significant
with respect to job experience (p-value = 0.022 i.e. < 0.05) while
it was insignificant in males and females opinion (p-value =
0.249 i.e. > 0.05).
Finally, there were 68% (n=68) people who believed that in
future the physiotherapy profession will be more developed,
26% (n=26) answered that it will not be well developed while 6%
(n=6) people believed that the profession will be remain
stagnant in future as well. The perception of the PT's about the
future was statistically insignificant with respect to gender and
job duration, (p-value 0.992 and 0.632 respectively).
Figure - VI: Frequency distribution of “According to you how our profession
could grow in Pakistan”
50
42
40
Frequency
30
20
16
14 12
10 11
5 org/policy/ps-descriptionPT]
0 Level Physiotherapy Educational Systems in Ireland' in
International Research Evidence Based
Collaboration Development Knowledge
P-value= 0.249
DISCUSSION
Physical therapy is a growing and developing profession in
Pakistan. There is no professional regularity body yet in the
country. There are no organized continuous educational courses
for physiotherapists and no link between local and international
physiotherapy institutes or organizations. Need has been
highlighted for the proper service structure in government as
well as private institutions, research, development and training
based on international standards. The government needs to
provide not only separate resources but other back up support
for the healthy growth of this field in the country.
Most of the participants reported that they were in this
profession because they did not qualify for other professions
and some of them reported that they wanted to be
physiotherapists by their own choice. So majority of the
physiotherapists were not satisfied with their salaries and
educational status in Pakistan. Most of the female participants
reported that they did not intend to practice after graduation.
Participants reported that they were not satisfied with the
professional growth and development in this field in Pakistan.
Most of the physiotherapists were not happy about the
initiatives taken so far for the professional growth and
development of physical therapy in Pakistan.
Mostly the novice physical therapists were not satisfied with
their earnings and quality of education. Participants reported
that the Struggle for the regulatory body is the best
advancement in the development of the profession and some
others stated that entry level DPT program is the best
advancement in the development of the profession. Moreover
ISRA MEDICAL JOURNAL | Volume 6 - Issue 1 | Jan - Mar 2014
participants also emphasized that lack of coordination between
PTs is a major impediment in professional development, and
growth of this profession in Pakistan. Participants stated that so
far the campaigns and initiatives which are being taken for the
betterment of PT profession are at best poor. The participants
suggested that international collaboration can contribute
positively to the growth of the profession in the country.
Future research is greatly needed in order to explore greater in
depth about the perception of physical therapists on how to
improve and give a brighter future to their profession in
Pakistan. This could be done by increasing the sample size.
CONCLUSION
Considerably low level of satisfaction was found amongst the
participants regarding their earnings and quality of education.
Mostly the participants were hopeful in future to see their
profession developed with the help of regulatory body and
empirical commitments from the government.
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