IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jijerp/v17y2020i10p3406-d357656.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Experiences of Overseas Trained Physical Therapists Working in Saudi Arabia: An Observational Study

Author

Listed:
  • Ahmad H. Alghadir

    (Rehabilitation Research Chair, College of Applied Medical Sciences, King Saud University, Riyadh 11433, Saudi Arabia)

  • Hamayun Zafar

    (Rehabilitation Research Chair, College of Applied Medical Sciences, King Saud University, Riyadh 11433, Saudi Arabia
    Department of Odontology, Umea University, 90187 Umea, Sweden)

  • Zaheen A. Iqbal

    (Rehabilitation Research Chair, College of Applied Medical Sciences, King Saud University, Riyadh 11433, Saudi Arabia)

Abstract

Background: Health professionals, including physical therapists (PTs), are known to migrate for better jobs, as well as for personal and professional development. However, this involves risks of maladjustment, discrimination, and exploitation. We conducted this study to investigate the experiences of overseas trained PTs in Saudi Arabia (SA) and their perceptions about physical therapy practice and problems regarding the profession in the country. Methods : A questionnaire and accompanying explanation of the study was sent to 175 members of the Saudi Physical Therapy Association (SPTA) working in SA who had been trained outside SA and had a minimum of one year of work experience before moving to SA. Results : One hundred and fifty (86%) respondents completed the questionnaire. Among the respondents, the majority had more than five years of work experience after moving to SA. While 54% of the respondents reported that they were satisfied with their work experiences in SA, the remaining respondents reported their dissatisfaction for various reasons. Conclusions : With the increase in aged population and rise in disability, the need for PTs has simultaneously increased in the health care sector around the world, including in SA. Until PTs of local origin are ready to fill the requirements, the services of PTs from other countries will be required in SA. Although the majority of respondents reported having positive work experiences in SA, the negative aspects and challenges faced by PTs in SA have also been highlighted in this study. These problems need to be addressed in order to promote the development of a better and more holistic approach to patient care.

Suggested Citation

  • Ahmad H. Alghadir & Hamayun Zafar & Zaheen A. Iqbal, 2020. "Experiences of Overseas Trained Physical Therapists Working in Saudi Arabia: An Observational Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(10), pages 1-9, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:17:y:2020:i:10:p:3406-:d:357656
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/17/10/3406/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/17/10/3406/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Julia Nichols & Jackie Campbell, 2010. "The experiences of internationally recruited nurses in the UK (1995–2007): an integrative review," Journal of Clinical Nursing, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 19(19‐20), pages 2814-2823, October.
    2. Foo, Jonathan S. & Storr, Michael & Maloney, Stephen, 2016. "Registration factors that limit international mobility of people holding physiotherapy qualifications: A systematic review," Health Policy, Elsevier, vol. 120(6), pages 665-673.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Daria Kostrzewa & Joanna Bonior & Maciej Polak & Alicja Domagała, 2022. "Factors Affecting Migration Intentions of Polish Physiotherapists and Students of Physiotherapy—A Cross-Sectional Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(21), pages 1-13, November.
    2. Nkechinyelu Ann Edeh & Sarah Riley & Patrizia Kokot‐Blamey, 2022. "The production of difference and “becoming Black”: The experiences of female Nigerian doctors and nurses working in the National Health Service," Gender, Work and Organization, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 29(2), pages 520-535, March.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:17:y:2020:i:10:p:3406-:d:357656. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.