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. 2022 Mar 3;22(1):176.
doi: 10.1186/s12884-022-04484-7.

Physical therapists' experiences and perceptions of antepartum and postpartum care

Kuan-Yin Lin  1   2 , Yi-Ju Tsai  3   4 , Jeng-Feng Yang  3   5 , Meng-Hsing Wu  6   7
Affiliations

Physical therapists' experiences and perceptions of antepartum and postpartum care

Kuan-Yin Lin et al. BMC Pregnancy Childbirth. .

Abstract

Background: Little is known about the physical therapists' practice and perceptions toward management of pregnancy/postpartum-related disorders in Taiwan. The aim of this study was to document current practice of physical therapy in antepartum and postpartum care in Taiwan.

Methods: An exploratory, cross-sectional study was conducted in registered physical therapists living in Taiwan. An anonymized online survey was designed, piloted, and advertised widely from March 2020 to March 2021. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, Chi square analysis and multivariate logistic regression.

Results: Of the 364 respondents, 37.6% had experience of treating pregnant or postpartum women in clinical practice. The most commonly treated pregnancy/postpartum-related disorder in practice was low back pain (61.3%). All respondents reported little to moderate level of confidence in their ability to manage pregnancy/postpartum-related disorder. Being female (p < 0.01); working at a regional hospital (p = 0.01), district hospital or district teaching hospital (p < 0.01), clinic (p = 0.01) or physiotherapy clinic (p = 0.01); and having prior experience of treating antepartum or postpartum women (p < 0.01) were significantly associated with willingness to provide customer-oriented service or health education to patients/clients with pregnancy/postpartum-related disorder after controlling for other confounding variables. The most commonly reported barrier was "lack of available training" (81.3%).

Conclusion: The majority of participating physical therapists indicated a positive attitude to antepartum and postpartum care but were not confident in management of various pregnancy/postpartum-related disorder in practices. The findings of this study highlight the educational needs related to antepartum and postpartum care in clinical practice for physical therapists in Taiwan.

Keywords: Physical therapy; Postpartum; Pregnancy.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that they have no competing interests. Portions of this study were presented as an eposter at the World Physiotherapy Congress 2021 online, April 9–11, 2021.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Perception of physical therapists * Participants could select multiple responses
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Perceived barriers to providing physical therapy services for antepartum and postpartum women in clinical practice* * Participants could select multiple responses
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Perceived facilitators to providing physical therapy services for antepartum and postpartum women in clinical practice* * Participants could select multiple responses
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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