Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42588218›Full record

ArticleHealthcare (Basel, Switzerland)2026

Physical Therapists' Self-Reported Perceptions of Bedside Manners in Saudi Arabia: A Mixed-Methods Study.

Ali Alsouhibani, Faris M Aba-Alkhayl, Moodhi M Alfouzan, Sara H Althinayyan, Ryhana M Alnoshan, Jana B Albarrak, Wasan A Alsaheel, Fayzah A Almohaimeed, Alanoud I Alsughayyir, Raghad Aljutaily and 4 more

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Article in Healthcare (Basel, Switzerland), 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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1 · What the graph read from it

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2 · The registry

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3 · Its place in the literature

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4 · The record

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5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

14 authors.

Ali AlsouhibaniDepartment of Physical Therapy, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Qassim University, Buraydah 51452, Saudi Arabia.ORCID 0000-0002-2410-4280
Faris M Aba-AlkhaylDepartment of Occupational Therapy, College of Medical Rehabilitation Sciences, Taibah University, Madinah 42353, Saudi Arabia.ORCID 0009-0003-0404-3817
Moodhi M AlfouzanDepartment of Physical Therapy, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Qassim University, Buraydah 51452, Saudi Arabia.ORCID 0000-0003-1227-6058
Sara H AlthinayyanDepartment of Physical Therapy, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Qassim University, Buraydah 51452, Saudi Arabia.
Ryhana M AlnoshanDepartment of Physical Therapy, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Qassim University, Buraydah 51452, Saudi Arabia.ORCID 0009-0001-2045-7361
Jana B AlbarrakDepartment of Physical Therapy, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Qassim University, Buraydah 51452, Saudi Arabia.
Wasan A AlsaheelDepartment of Physical Therapy, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Qassim University, Buraydah 51452, Saudi Arabia.
Fayzah A AlmohaimeedDepartment of Physical Therapy, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Qassim University, Buraydah 51452, Saudi Arabia.ORCID 0009-0003-4933-9478
Alanoud I AlsughayyirDepartment of Physical Therapy, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Qassim University, Buraydah 51452, Saudi Arabia.
Raghad AljutailyDepartment of Physical Therapy, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Qassim University, Buraydah 51452, Saudi Arabia.ORCID 0000-0003-2954-1145
Ruba S AlquraishiDepartment of Physical Therapy, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Qassim University, Buraydah 51452, Saudi Arabia.ORCID 0009-0009-0968-4166
Renad K AldughaimDepartment of Physical Therapy, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Qassim University, Buraydah 51452, Saudi Arabia.ORCID 0009-0004-3754-2310
Fai AlqazlanDepartment of Physical Therapy, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Qassim University, Buraydah 51452, Saudi Arabia.
Saleh M AlorainiDepartment of Physical Therapy, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Qassim University, Buraydah 51452, Saudi Arabia.ORCID 0000-0001-7939-8098

Funding

The Deanship of Graduate Studies and Scientific Research, Qassim University QU-APC-2026
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

BACKGROUND/

objectivesBedside manners are an important part of patient-centered physical therapy care, yet little is known about how Saudi physical therapists understand and apply them in practice. This study examined therapists' perceptions of bedside manners and ethics, and explored differences related to gender and work setting.

methodsA cross-sectional mixed-methods study was conducted among 147 licensed Saudi physical therapists. Quantitative data were collected using a 28-item questionnaire, and qualitative data were gathered through semi-structured interviews with 22 participants. Survey responses were summarized using frequencies and percentages, and differences by gender and work setting were reported. Interview data were analyzed using Braun and Clarke's thematic analysis.

resultsMost participants were female (66.7%) and aged 20-30 years (70.7%). Overall, therapists reported very high agreement with bedside-manner principles across most items. Descriptive patterns by gender and work setting in some perceptions (e.g., patient privacy, therapist presence, and attention to minor cases) were noted. Qualitative analysis identified seven themes: building trust, perceived positive contribution to care, body language, differing views on empathy, therapist presence, patient equity, and seeking help from colleagues.

conclusionsSaudi physical therapists strongly supported core bedside manner behaviors, especially communication, privacy, reassurance, and fair treatment of patients. These findings may inform efforts to incorporate bedside manners into physical therapy education and professional development in support of ethical, patient-centered practice.

Indexed as

bedside mannersEthicsmixed-methodspatient carephysical therapySaudi Arabia

Identifiers

PMID42588218
PMCPMC13465485

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.