Factors associated with satisfaction with physical therapy services - a survey of patients with musculoskeletal pain at a federally qualified health center

Patricia Dionicio; Shih-Fan Lin; Maureen Khasira; Sukhpreet Maan; Jason Van Dyke; Jie Liu; Katrina Monroe; Sara Gombatto

doi:10.1080/09593985.2023.2292267

Factors associated with satisfaction with physical therapy services - a survey of patients with musculoskeletal pain at a federally qualified health center

Physiother Theory Pract. 2023 Dec 18:1-19. doi: 10.1080/09593985.2023.2292267. Online ahead of print.

Authors

Patricia Dionicio^{1

2}, Shih-Fan Lin², Maureen Khasira³, Sukhpreet Maan³, Jason Van Dyke³, Jie Liu³, Katrina Monroe^{2

4}, Sara Gombatto^{2

4}

Affiliations

¹ San Diego Joint Doctoral Program in Public Health, San Diego State University/University of California, San Diego, CA, USA.
² SDSU HealthLINK Center, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA, USA.
³ Laura Rodriguez Research Institute, Family Health Centers of San Diego, San Diego, CA, USA.
⁴ Doctor of Physical Therapy Program, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA, USA.

PMID: 38108333
DOI: 10.1080/09593985.2023.2292267

Abstract

Purpose: The objective of this cross-sectional survey-based study was to assess factors associated with patient satisfaction with physical therapy (PT) services received at a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) in the United States (US) located near the US-Mexico border.

Methods: Patients > 18 years of age, English or Spanish speakers, referred to PT were invited to complete an online survey. Factors that may influence PT satisfaction were examined for patients who attended PT. Variables associated with PT satisfaction from bivariate analyses (p < .15) were included in three separate ordinal logistic regression models.

Results: Patients (N = 231) who reported more confidence that PT could help relieve their pain were more likely to have higher levels of satisfaction with PT communication, treatment, and outcomes than those who reported low confidence (p < .05). Patients who reported having more support from family and friends were more likely to have higher levels of satisfaction with PT communication and treatment than those with less support (p < .01). Patients with occasional or frequent pain after ending PT treatment were more likely to have lower satisfaction with PT outcomes than those reporting no pain (p < .05).

Conclusions: Findings suggest that addressing confidence in PT and promoting health support from family and friends may be important for satisfaction with PT. Additionally, PTs may consider addressing gaps between expected and achieved outcomes to improve PT satisfaction.

Keywords: Physical therapy; chronic pain; federally qualified health center; satisfaction.