Therapeutic Deputyship, Ministry of Health, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
General Directorate of Health Affairs, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
East Mediterr Health J. 2024 May 29;30(5):344-349. doi: 10.26719/2024.30.5.344.
Adequate supply of rehabilitation health workforce is a prerequisite for enhancing access to rehabilitation care. However, there is a lack of comprehensive data regarding the supply of rehabilitation health workers in Saudi Arabia.
To determine the need for, and supply of, rehabilitation workforce, and investigate the relationship between rehabilitation workforce supply and rehabilitation needs in Saudi Arabia.
This cross-sectional study measured the ratio of physiotherapists and occupational therapists per 10 000 population. Data were obtained from the Ministry of Health, family health survey and census data of the General Authority for Statistics and published literature. To assess the need for rehabilitation services, we computed a composite disability index based on 3 variables: count of individuals with physical disabilities, those with chronic diseases, and those aged > 65 years. Determinants of the supply potential were population size, rural population percentage, and physician supply. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics and simple linear regression.
The ratios of physiotherapists and occupational therapists working at the Ministry of Health facilities were 0.69 and 0.03 per 10 000 population, respectively. Overall rehabilitation health workforce ratio was 0.73 per 10 000. Supply varied across regions, from 0.4 for Riyadh to 2.5 for Al Jouf. Nine regions exceeded the overall ratio. Rehabilitation need index ranged from 0.144 in Najran to 0.212 in Aseer. No significant associations were found between rehabilitation workforce supply on one hand, and need and other potential determinants on the other hand.
The rehabilitation workforce supply in Saudi Arabia surpassed the regional and global averages, but was lower than the average for high-income countries. Workforce distribution varied by region across the country and was not related to need. It is important to consider the need for rehabilitation services and context-specific factors when determining the optimal size and distribution of the rehabilitation health workforce in Saudi Arabia.
康复卫生人力的充足供应是提高康复护理可及性的前提。然而，沙特阿拉伯康复卫生工作者的供应情况缺乏全面的数据。
确定沙特阿拉伯康复劳动力的需求和供应情况，并调查康复劳动力供应与康复需求之间的关系。
本横断面研究测量了每 10000 人口的物理治疗师和作业治疗师的比例。数据来自卫生部、家庭健康调查和统计总局的人口普查数据以及已发表的文献。为了评估康复服务的需求，我们根据 3 个变量计算了一个综合残疾指数：肢体残疾人数、慢性病患者人数和 65 岁以上人口数。供应潜力的决定因素是人口规模、农村人口比例和医生供应。使用描述性统计和简单线性回归分析数据。
卫生部医疗机构的物理治疗师和作业治疗师比例分别为每 10000 人 0.69 和 0.03。整体康复卫生人力比例为每 10000 人 0.73。供应情况因地区而异，从利雅得的 0.4 到焦夫的 2.5。有 9 个地区超过了总体比例。康复需求指数在纳季兰为 0.144，在阿西尔为 0.212。在康复劳动力供应与需求和其他潜在决定因素之间没有发现显著的关联。
沙特阿拉伯的康复劳动力供应超过了区域和全球平均水平，但低于高收入国家的平均水平。劳动力分布因地区而异，与需求无关。在确定沙特阿拉伯康复卫生人力的最佳规模和分布时，考虑康复服务需求和特定于国情的因素非常重要。
