Physiotherapy pessary providers in Australia: results of a multidisciplinary survey of practice

Background Physiotherapists have recently become involved in the management of women with prolapse by providing pessary care as well as pelvic floor muscle training and lifestyle advice. There are little data internationally about physiotherapists providing pessaries and only one Australian study to date reporting on a multidisciplinary survey of pessary providers, which indicated large numbers of physiotherapists involved in pessary management. Aims The aim of this study was to report specifically on further details of physiotherapy pessary practice from this survey. Methods An anonymous 24-item electronic survey was developed and sent to all known healthcare pessary providers in Australia between 26 June and 31 August 2022. The survey contained both multiple choice and text answer questions, divided into four sections: clinician demographics, pessary management training, current practices and future training needs. Responses were analysed using descriptive statistics and key variables reported using frequencies (numbers and percentages). Results We report comprehensive data on the 324 physiotherapy respondents, who were distributed across all states and territories and in all regions of Australia except in very remote regions. Physiotherapists had 1–15 years’ experience in pessary management, were predominantly employed in private practice, with variable training, and no universal requirement to demonstrate competence. They used a wide range of pessaries, fitted a median of three pessaries per month and all taught pessary self-management. Conclusions Physiotherapists are widely distributed across Australia providing local pessary management for women with prolapse. There is a need for national training standards to ensure physiotherapists deliver safe, best-practice pessary care.