WHAT COMPONENTS OF OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH PHYSIOTHERAPY CARE ARE IMPORTANT TO CLIENTS?

Background: It is critical for physiotherapists working in occupational health to understand how clients perceive their services and what they expect when presenting for care. This purpose of this project was to provide insight into the components of care that clients presenting to the occupational health physiotherapy service consider important. Methods: Clients were handed a questionnaire at their initial physiotherapy consultation and asked to complete and return it immediately. The demographic and work and health data was completed by the attending physiotherapist. Results: The aspects of care rated in order of highest to lowest in importance by clients were treatment to improve function (95.7%), prevention (95.7%), information and education (92%), treatment for pain relief (90.2%) and diagnosis (81%). Conclusion: Allocating funding to expand occupational health physiotherapy services is essential, given the importance that most clients placed on function and prevention, for transitioning from reactive care models toward proactive, prevention-oriented management of musculoskeletal health conditions in the workplace.