Biomaterial Database

Distribution of working time and contents of physiotherapy activities in a clinical setting--methodological considerations. 1994

U Talvitie, and A Salenius

The purpose of the present study was to collect personnel utilization data in the physiotherapy department of a general hospital as a basis for improving the practice of physiotherapy. Over a four-week period in a process of continuous observation 12 physiotherapists recorded their activities under predefined task categories. The percentages of total time used in the observed activities were as follows: direct patient treatment 31%, other work (planning, recording, arranging walking aids and student guidance) 10%, and cooperation (consultation, meetings, arranging patients' affairs, counselling relatives and parents) 9%. The proportion of uncategorized work amounted to half of the total working time. Physical exercise and counselling in direct patient care, preparation and records in other work and teamwork and cooperation with parents were the commonest activities recorded. The physiotherapists' time schedule in the different wards differed in terms of mean treatment time per patient and amount of patients per day. The major problems were felt to be the lack of assessment methods of follow-up and feed-back systems for patients after hospital care and uncertainty as to what the content of practise should contain. The observation method appeared to be a useful tool for collecting personnel utilization data in a physiotherapy department.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D007587	Job Description	Statement of the position requirements, qualifications for the position, wage range, and any special conditions expected of the employee.	Position Description,Description, Job,Description, Position,Descriptions, Job,Descriptions, Position,Job Descriptions,Position Descriptions
D008875	Middle Aged	An adult aged 45 - 64 years.	Middle Age
D005260	Female		Females
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000368	Aged	A person 65 years of age or older. For a person older than 79 years, AGED, 80 AND OVER is available.	Elderly
D013647	Task Performance and Analysis	The detailed examination of observable activity or behavior associated with the execution or completion of a required function or unit of work.	Critical Incident Technique,Critical Incident Technic,Task Performance,Task Performance, Analysis,Critical Incident Technics,Critical Incident Techniques,Incident Technic, Critical,Incident Technics, Critical,Incident Technique, Critical,Incident Techniques, Critical,Performance, Analysis Task,Performance, Task,Performances, Analysis Task,Performances, Task,Task Performances,Task Performances, Analysis,Technic, Critical Incident,Technics, Critical Incident,Technique, Critical Incident,Techniques, Critical Incident
D016526	Workload	The total amount of work to be performed by an individual, a department, or other group of workers in a period of time.	Employee Workload,Staff Workload,Employee Work Load,Staff Work Load,Work Load,Employee Work Loads,Employee Workloads,Staff Work Loads,Staff Workloads,Work Load, Employee,Work Load, Staff,Work Loads,Work Loads, Employee,Work Loads, Staff,Workload, Employee,Workload, Staff,Workloads,Workloads, Employee,Workloads, Staff
D026741	Physical Therapy Modalities	Therapeutic modalities frequently used in PHYSICAL THERAPY SPECIALTY by PHYSICAL THERAPISTS or physiotherapists to promote, maintain, or restore the physical and physiological well-being of an individual.	Physical Therapy,Physiotherapy (Techniques),Group Physiotherapy,Neurological Physiotherapy,Neurophysiotherapy,Physical Therapy Techniques,Group Physiotherapies,Modalities, Physical Therapy,Modality, Physical Therapy,Physical Therapies,Physical Therapy Modality,Physical Therapy Technique,Physiotherapies (Techniques),Physiotherapies, Group,Physiotherapy, Group,Physiotherapy, Neurological,Techniques, Physical Therapy,Therapy, Physical