Physical therapy practice in intensive care units in Jordanian hospitals: A national survey

Objective A national survey was conducted to determine the current status of physical therapy practice in the intensive care units (ICUs) of Jordanian hospitals. Methods An online survey was sent via email to physical therapists working at Jordanian hospitals. Questions of the survey addressed the physical therapy demographics, staffing, education, training, and barriers of practice. The responses were compared among four different hospital sectors in the country. Results The response rate was 31% (50/161). Thirty-six percent of participants had more than 10 years of experience in physical therapy, and 26% had less than 1 year of experience in the intensive care practice. Staffing of physical therapists working in ICUs relative to the total ICU beds was the highest in public hospitals compared with other hospital sectors. Among all participants, only 4% had received specialized postgraduate ICU training. The barriers to ICU physical therapy practice in Jordan included insufficient staffing, inadequate training, and lack of understanding of physical therapy role for ICU patients. Conclusion The study showed the main barriers to ICU physical therapy practice in Jordan. There is a need for well-structured strategies to overcome these barriers to help improve the delivery of physical therapy services in Jordan.