ArticleRisk management and healthcare policy2026
Implementation of Direct Access Physiotherapy Policy in Saudi Arabia: Insights from Practicing Physiotherapists: A Cross-Sectional Study.
Article in Risk management and healthcare policy, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
0 citing papers in PubMed.
No citing paper in PubMed yet.
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
4 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
Background: Direct access to physical therapy (DAPT) services has attracted global attention for its potential to promote healthcare coverage, access, and equity. This study investigated physical therapists' opinions on DAPT practice, including awareness, perceived barriers, potential benefits, and implications for healthcare. Methods: A cross-sectional study was used to survey 137 physical therapists from governmental, semi-governmental, and private centers. The Bury and Stokes tool was used to evaluate the DAPT opinions that were originally assessed in the views of World Confederation for Physical Therapy (WCPT) members on DAPT policy. The link to the questionnaire and informed consent was emailed to the physiotherapists. Data was reported in percentages and means as appropriate. Mann‒Whitney Results: The physiotherapists demonstrated good theoretical knowledge (65.7%) and understanding of DAPT concepts (73%). The overall awareness score was 2.46 ± 0.48 out of 3. Many supported (80.3%) and were willing to practice DAPT (77.7%). Out of a total mean score of 5, major concerns include physicians' views score (3.32 ± 1.12), lack of evidence-based practices (3.07 ± 1.06), lack of professional competencies (3.01 ± 1.06), and payment models (3.2 ± 1.11). The documented advantages encompass enhanced patient satisfaction (4.19 ± 0.79), expedited services (4.32 ± 0.75), and elevated professional standing (4.33 ± 0.74). Senior practitioners demonstrated a higher level of awareness in comparison to their junior colleagues (score: 2.4 vs 2.6; p=0.004). Additionally, physiotherapists with over 25 years of clinical experience recognized the benefits of direct access over their counterparts with lesser experience (> 25 years' experience median score 4.5; vs median scores < 4 for all lesser experience groups; p<0.003). Conclusion: This study emphasizes physiotherapists' opinions and positive attitudes regarding the DAPT policy implementation in Saudi Arabia. Nevertheless, addressing the challenges identified through education, advocacy, policy adjustments, and collaboration between stakeholders can enhance the accessibility, quality, and overall delivery of physiotherapy services.
Indexed as
Identifiers
What OpenQuestion holds
Registered trials
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.