Towards a Sub-Acute Cardiorespiratory Physiotherapy Service Within a Hospital-at-Home Model: A Descriptive Qualitative Study.

Purpose: To identify the perceived needs of healthcare providers prior to the implementation of a physiotherapy-led sub-acute home-care service integrated into an existing home hospital service (HSS) in South Australia. Patients and Methods: A qualitative descriptive study was conducted using semi-structured interviews with one HHS management representative and seven private practice physiotherapists in South Australia. Data were analysed using qualitative content analysis, and findings were reported in accordance with the Consolidated Criteria for Reporting Qualitative Research COREQ guidelines. Results: Participants identified uncertainty regarding patient selection, referral criteria, and role of physiotherapy within the HHS. Physiotherapists reported limited recent experience in community-based cardiorespiratory practice and expressed concerns related to perceived clinical risk in the home setting despite recognition that HHS patients are generally clinically stable. Willingness to engage with the service varied and was influenced by professional interest, operational feasibility, workload integration and clarity of governance structures. Key implementation needs include targeted training, clinical protocols, access to equipment, supervision, and streamlined documentation systems. Conclusion: Successful integration of physiotherapy into HHS requires clear referral logic, role definition, and alignment with private practice operational realities. Future research should evaluate post-implementation outcomes, patient perspectives, and refined referral criteria in order to inform scalable physiotherapy-inclusive HHS models.