Characteristics of Outpatients receiving Physical Therapy Services at a Provincial Hospital in Papua New Guinea: A Descriptive Case Study

Takashi Saito; Angelberth Bai; Nobuko Matsui; Kazuhiro Izawa; Shuichiro Watanabe; Alfred Malagisa

doi:10.47985/dcidj.405

Takashi Saito ⁽¹⁾, Angelberth Bai ⁽²⁾, Nobuko Matsui ⁽³⁾, Kazuhiro Izawa ⁽⁴⁾, Shuichiro Watanabe ⁽⁵⁾, Alfred Malagisa ⁽⁶⁾

(1) Physiotherapy Department, Kimbe Provincial Hospital, Papua New Guinea and Japan Overseas Cooperation Volunteers, Japan International Cooperation Agency, Tokyo, Japan, Papua New Guinea,

(2) Physiotherapy Department, Kimbe Provincial Hospital, Papua New Guinea,

(3) Department of Physical Therapy, University of Tokyo Health Sciences, Japan,

(4) Department of Public Health, Graduate School of Health Sciences, Kobe University, Japan,

(5) Graduate School of Gerontology, J. F. Oberlin University, Japan,

(6) Medical Services Department, Kimbe Provincial Hospital, Papua New Guinea

https://doi.org/10.47985/dcidj.405

Issue
Vol. 31 No. 3 (2020): Autumn

Submitted
November 8, 2020

Published
December 19, 2020

Keywords:

Papua New Guinea, physical and rehabilitation medicine

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Abstract

Purpose: Development of Physical Therapy (PT) services for people with disability is one of the urgent challenges in the health sector in Papua New Guinea (PNG). However, information on the current status of PT services in PNG is scarce, as also is the case for the hospital-based outpatient PT services. This study aimed to describe the characteristics of outpatients receiving PT services in a provincial hospital in West New Britain (WNB) Province, PNG and to compare them with the characteristics of inpatients.

Method: This was a retrospective case study using outpatient and inpatient records. The records of clients receiving PT services as either outpatients (413 records, outpatient group) or inpatients (350 records, inpatient group) were reviewed in relation to sex, age and diagnosis. Comparisons were made between the two groups on basis of quantitative data of the two patient groups .

Results: The final analysis comprised 404 records in the outpatient group and 344 records in the inpatient group. In the outpatient group, injury and musculoskeletal disease were forming the most dominant diagnosis groups with 52.5% and 22.0%, respectively. Injury was most common in the agegroup 20 to 39 years and musculoskeletal diseases was most common in the agegroup 40 to 59 years. These two diagnosis groups and congenital malformations were significantly more represented among outpatients than among inpatients.

Conclusions: Young to middle-aged clients with injury or musculoskeletal disease were predominant among outpatient PT services as compared to inpatient services. The study findings serve to provide information on the current situation and potential needs of hospital-based outpatient PT services in one provincial hospital of PNG. These findings could be the base for planning outpatient PT service in WNB Province and PNG.

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Authors

Takashi Saito

Physiotherapy Department, Kimbe Provincial Hospital, Papua New Guinea and Japan Overseas Cooperation Volunteers, Japan International Cooperation Agency, Tokyo, Japan

https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7742-8457

takashi-riha@live.jp (Primary Contact)

Angelberth Bai

Physiotherapy Department, Kimbe Provincial Hospital

Nobuko Matsui

Department of Physical Therapy, University of Tokyo Health Sciences

Kazuhiro Izawa

Department of Public Health, Graduate School of Health Sciences, Kobe University

https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7262-8903

Shuichiro Watanabe

Graduate School of Gerontology, J. F. Oberlin University

Alfred Malagisa

Medical Services Department, Kimbe Provincial Hospital

Author Biographies

Takashi Saito, Physiotherapy Department, Kimbe Provincial Hospital, Papua New Guinea and Japan Overseas Cooperation Volunteers, Japan International Cooperation Agency, Tokyo, Japan

Takashi is a registered Physical Therapist at the Physiotherapy Department of Kimbe Provincial Hospital in Papua New Guinea.

Angelberth Bai, Physiotherapy Department, Kimbe Provincial Hospital

Angelberth is a registered Physical Therapist at the Physiotherapy Department of Kimbe Provincial Hospital in PNG.

Nobuko Matsui, Department of Physical Therapy, University of Tokyo Health Sciences

Nobuko is an Assistant Professor at the Department of Physical Therapy in University of Tokyo Health Sciences, Japan

Kazuhiro Izawa, Department of Public Health, Graduate School of Health Sciences, Kobe University

Kazuhiro works at the Department of Public Health of Graduate School of Health Sciences in Kobe University, Japan, as an Associate Professor.

Shuichiro Watanabe, Graduate School of Gerontology, J. F. Oberlin University

Shuichiro is a Professor at the Graduate School of Gerontology of J.F. Oberlin University in Japan.

Alfred Malagisa, Medical Services Department, Kimbe Provincial Hospital

Alfred is a Doctor at Medical Services Department of Kimbe Provincial Hospital in Papua New Guinea.

1.

Saito T, Bai A, Matsui N, Izawa K, Watanabe S, Malagisa A. Characteristics of Outpatients receiving Physical Therapy Services at a Provincial Hospital in Papua New Guinea: A Descriptive Case Study. DCIDJ [Internet]. 2020 Dec. 19 [cited 2025 Jan. 2];31(3):124-37. Available from: https://dcidj.uog.edu.et/index.php/up-j-dcbrid/article/view/405

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