PHYSICAL HEALTH RELATED QUALITY OF LIFE IN PAKISTANI PHYSICAL THERAPISTS

Abstract

Objectives: The objective of this study is to find out the quality of life (QOL) related to physical health and factors associated with it in physical therapists of Pakistan. Materials & Methods: Descriptive cross sectional survey was conducted among physiotherapists of Pakistan working in different hospitals and teaching institutes. The sample (n=378) was collected through convenient sampling technique. The qualified doctors of physical therapy with age of 22-50 years were included. Data was collected by using General demographic questionnaire including age, gender, qualification, marital status, job type, job nature, financial issues, family issues, job satisfaction, salary satisfaction, overall satisfaction, depression anxiety stress (DAS) and physical health related quality of life (WHO-QoL). Data was analyzed by using SPSS 21. Results: The results showed that mean age of study participant was 29.66±3.75. the average population of PTs had normal physical health(49.53±15.17). A total of n=146(38.64%) physical therapist had good, n=90(23.81%) had normal, n=136(35.98%) had poor and n=6(1.59%) had very poor quality of life related to their physical health. Physical health was found poor among PTs those who were divorced (37.33±9.81), severely depressed (32.27±13.09), in severe anxiety (32.75±3.24) and severely stressed (31.00±.00). Conclusion: Average population of PTs had normal physical health. The physical health was associated with gender, type of job, nature of job, financial issues and family issues. Physical health becomes poorer as depression, anxiety and stress severity increases. Keywords: Physical Therapist, quality of life, Depression, anxiety, stress. Work related musculoskeletal disorders.