ABSTRACT

Background: Physiotherapists play a crucial role within the healthcare team, particularly in the specialized care of older adults. Their expertise in the assessment, diagnosis and intervention in movement and functional impairments associated with aging is essential for meeting the specific needs of the elderly population. Despite these important roles, there is a lack of data on the extent and patterns of utilisation of physiotherapy in geriatric patients care services.

Aim: The aim of this study was to review the utilisation of physiotherapy services in geriatic patients’ care in a tertiary hospital in Benin City, Nigeria.

Method: A retrospective design study was conducted, analysing medical records of patients admitted and referred for physiotherapy geriatric services at University of Benin teaching hospital from January 2016 to March 2024. Information regarding age, sex, diagnoses, admission periods, and physiotherapy referrals was extracted. The data was then inputted into SPSS version 27.0 and analysed using descriptive statistics, including frequency, percentage, pie charts, and bar chart.

Results: The results indicated a higher rate of physiotherapy service referrals among women (62.6%) compared to men (32.4%) throughout the years, except for 2020. Of the patients referred for physiotherapy services, 52% were in the inpatient setting, while 48% were in the outpatient setting. The most prevalent conditions referred for geriatric physiotherapy services were cerebrovascular accidents (21.1%), knee osteoarthritis (14%), and pneumonia (13.4%).

Conclusion: Regarding utilisation of physiotherapy, there is a higher rate of referral in women compared to men. Additionally, the distribution of patients between inpatient and outpatient settings emphasizes the versatility and adaptability of physiotherapy in meeting the diverse needs of geriatric populations

Keywords: Geriatric, utilisation, physiotherapy, older adults