King Jennifer, Freburger Janet K, Slifkin Rebecca T
Cecil G. Sheps Center for Health Services Research, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA.
Physiother Res Int. 2010 Mar;15(1):24-34. doi: 10.1002/pri.455.
The transition to the Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) as the entry-level degree for physical therapists in the United States is nearly complete. Little is known about how the transition has affected the characteristics of the physical therapy workforce or the provision of physical therapy services. Effects may be particularly acute in rural communities with persistent health-care provider shortages. The study objectives were to explore the early impact of the DPT on the supply and quality of physical therapy care in rural areas and to identify issues for future research.
Qualitative and quantitative data were collected through semi-structured telephone interviews. The interview subjects were education programme directors, directors of physical therapy at rural hospitals and presidents of state physical therapy associations.
The respondents provided little evidence that the DPT has had a significant impact on the supply or quality of physical therapy in rural areas thus far. There are problems with the supply of physical therapists in rural communities, but few respondents attributed this directly to the DPT. Few respondents believed the DPT has improved the quality of physical therapy care in rural settings, noting that experience was the main factor that contributed to quality of care. However, several respondents believed the DPT may impact the supply and quality of rural physical therapy in the future; about half were concerned about the potential for negative effects on the supply of physical therapists in rural areas.
In general, the respondents did not indicate that the DPT has had large effects on rural health care. However, future research should consider the negative and positive effects that may occur as DPT therapists make up a larger share of the workforce. Further, there are several areas where increased collaboration could be mutually beneficial to physical therapy educators, practitioners and rural communities.
在美国，向物理治疗博士（DPT）作为物理治疗师入门级学位的转变已基本完成。对于这一转变如何影响物理治疗劳动力的特征或物理治疗服务的提供，人们了解甚少。在医疗保健提供者持续短缺的农村社区，影响可能尤为严重。本研究的目的是探讨DPT对农村地区物理治疗服务的供应和质量的早期影响，并确定未来研究的问题。
通过半结构化电话访谈收集定性和定量数据。访谈对象为教育项目主任、农村医院物理治疗主任以及州物理治疗协会主席。
受访者几乎没有提供证据表明DPT目前对农村地区物理治疗的供应或质量产生了重大影响。农村社区物理治疗师的供应存在问题，但很少有受访者将此直接归因于DPT。很少有受访者认为DPT提高了农村地区物理治疗服务的质量，指出经验是影响护理质量的主要因素。然而，一些受访者认为DPT未来可能会影响农村物理治疗的供应和质量；约一半人担心对农村地区物理治疗师供应产生负面影响的可能性。
总体而言，受访者并未表明DPT对农村医疗保健产生了重大影响。然而，未来的研究应考虑随着DPT治疗师在劳动力中所占比例增加可能产生的负面和正面影响。此外，在几个领域加强合作可能对物理治疗教育工作者、从业者和农村社区都有利。
