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. 2009 Winter;61(1):5-14.
doi: 10.3138/physio.61.1.5. Epub 2009 Feb 13.

Wait times for publicly funded outpatient and community physiotherapy and occupational therapy services: implications for the increasing number of persons with chronic conditions in ontario, Canada

Laura A Passalent  1 , Michel D Landry, Cheryl A Cott
Affiliations

Wait times for publicly funded outpatient and community physiotherapy and occupational therapy services: implications for the increasing number of persons with chronic conditions in ontario, Canada

Laura A Passalent et al. Physiother Can. 2009 Winter.

Abstract
in English, French

Background: Timely access to publicly funded health services has emerged as a priority policy issue across the continuum of care from hospitals to the home and community sector. The purpose of this study was to examine wait lists and wait times for publicly funded outpatient and community occupational therapy (OT) and physical therapy (PT) services.

Methods: A mailed self-administered questionnaire was sent in December 2005 to all publicly funded sites across Ontario that deliver outpatient or community OT or PT services (N = 374). Descriptive statistics were used to describe the study sample and to examine wait lists and wait times by setting and client condition.

Results: Overall response rate was 57.2% (n = 214). More than 10,000 people were reported to be waiting for OT or PT services across Ontario. Of these, 16% (n = 1,664) were waiting for OT and 84% (n = 8,842) for PT. Of those waiting for OT, 59% had chronic conditions and half were waiting for home care rehabilitation services. Of those waiting for PT, 73% had chronic conditions and 81% were waiting at hospital outpatient departments.

Conclusions: Individuals with chronic conditions experience excessive wait times for outpatient and community OT and PT services in Ontario, particularly if they are waiting for services in hospital outpatient departments.

Historique : L'accès en temps opportun aux services de santé publics a émergé en tant que question de politique prioritaire dans le continuum des soins, des hôpitaux au foyer et au secteur communautaire. Cette étude avait pour but d'examiner les listes d'attente et les temps d'attente pour les patients externes en ce qui a trait aux services publics d'ergothérapie et de physiothérapie en milieu communautaire.

Méthodologie : En décembre 2005, un questionnaire par la poste auto-administré fut envoyé à tous les sites gouvernementaux de l'Ontario qui assurent la prestation de services d'ergothérapie ou de physiothérapie aux patients externes ou en milieu communautaire (N = 374). Des statistiques descriptives donnent un aperçu de l'exemple de l'étude et examinent les listes d'attente et les temps d'attente en fonction du milieu et de la condition du client.

Résultats : Le taux de réponse total a été de 57,2 % (n = 214). En Ontario, plus de 10,000 personnes ont été rapportées comme étant en attente de services d'ergothérapie ou de physiothérapie. Parmi celles-ci, 16 % (n = 1 664) attendaient des soins d'ergothérapie et 84 % (n = 8 842) des soins de physiothérapie. Parmi celles qui attendaient des soins d'ergothérapie, 59 % avaient une condition chronique et la moitié attendait des services de réadaptation à domicile. Parmi les personnes qui attendaient des services de physiothérapie, 73 % avaient une condition chronique et 81 % attendaient aux départements hospitaliers de patients externes.

Conclusion : En Ontario, les personnes atteintes de conditions chroniques sont soumises à des temps d'attente excessifs pour des services d'ergothérapie et de physiothérapie en clinique externe ou au sein de la collectivité, surtout si elles attendent des services dans les départements de clinique hospitalière externes.

Keywords: community services; physical therapy; physiotherapy; wait times.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Percentage of clients waiting for outpatient and community OT, by condition (MSK = musculoskeletal; there were no [0%] clients with hip fractures reported to be waiting for outpatient and community OT)
Figure 2
Figure 2
Percentage of clients waiting for outpatient and community PT, by condition (MSK = musculoskeletal)
Figure 3
Figure 3
Reported wait time (days) for outpatient and community occupational therapy and physical therapy services (see “Wait Times for Services” section for explanation of box-and-whisker plot; n = number of clinical settings reporting wait times)
Figure 4
Figure 4
Reported wait time (days) for occupational therapy and physiotherapy by setting (see “Wait Times for Services” section for explanation of box-and-whisker plot)
Figure 5
Figure 5
Reported wait times (days) for occupational therapy by condition (MSK = musculoskeletal)
Figure 6
Figure 6
Reported wait time (days) for physical therapy by condition (MSK = musculoskeletal)
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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