International Union for Circumpolar Health Ministry of Public Health and Social Development of RF Russian Academy of Medical Sciences Siberian Branch of Russian Academy of Medical Sciences Siberian Branch of Russian Academy of Sciences Medical Polar Fund “Science” The Northern Forum

Abstracts

Public health

Objectives: The availability of physiotherapeutic treatment in the coastal districts in Greenland varies and several of the 16 health districts do not employ a physiotherapist. The availability of physiotherapeutic treatment in Greenland has not previously been studied. The purpose of this study is to provide a qualitative view of the needs for physiotherapy in the districts and to illustrate the significant problems seen in districts with or without physiotherapeutic service.

Study design: The study includes the health districts along the Westcoast in Greenland. The study was based on semi-structured telephone interviews with physiotherapists all over Greenland and with site-visits at four district hospitals, of which one was without a physiotherapist. . The site-visits included observations of work processes and interviews with patients, health personnel and administrative personnel.

Results: In districts with physiotherapists, the physiotherapists experience that both patients and the health personnel have limited knowledge of what the physiotherapist can offer. This results in patients not getting their needs for treatment fulfilled. In districts without physiotherapists, the quality of the treatment offered by unqualified personnel is low and better guidelines and more frequent visits from physiotherapists from surrounding districts are required. Common for all districts is limited collaboration between the local authorities and the health service and a need for more efficient organisation of aid and appliances.

Conclusion: Even given the limited resources available, the results from this study point at several areas where it is possible to heighten the quality of the physiotherapeutic treatment. Reorganization of the physiotherapist’s field of work to include both work in the health service and relevant parts of the social sector would increase the availability of treatment. There is a need for guidelines for visits in districts without physiotherapists. When it comes to instructing personnel in districts without a physiotherapist a less mono professional set of thoughts is recommended. There is a need with regards to aid and appliances for better coordination, with focus on recycling and collection of intelligence. There is an overall need to secure better information to the public as to what physiotherapeutic treatment is and who may benefit from the treatment.

Note. Abstracts are published in author's edition

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Last update: 06-Jul-2012 (11:52:05)