PHP136 - CHANGES IN THE NUMBER OF PHYSIOTHERAPIST WORKFORCE IN EUROPEAN COUNTRIES BETWEEN 2000-2015

Abstract

The aim of our study was to analyse the changes in the number of practising physiotherapists working in OECD countries in Europe. Data analysed were derived from the OECD Health Data database. European countries were categorised according to type of health care system: Bismarckian-like solidarity based health insurance system or Beveridge-like national health system. Our data relate to practising physiotherapists working in areas related orthopaedics, geriatry, paediatrics or other areas. Years between 2000 and 2015 were analysed. In 2000, the average number of physiotherapists was 0.7/1,000 population in countries with a Bismarckian-like, and 0.7/1,000 population in countries with a Beveridge-like system. The difference was not significant (p= 0.953). In 2015, the average number of physiotherapists was 1.1/1,000 population in countries with a Bismarckian-like and 0.8/1,000 population in countries with a Beveridge-like system. The difference was not significant (p= 0.382). Between 2000-2015, the average number of practising physiotherapists per 1,000 population increased from 0.7 to 1.1 (+48 %) in countries with a Bismarckian-likesystem while in countries with a Beveridge-like health care the increase was from 0.7 to 0.8 (+10 %). During the same period, the average number of practising physiotherapists per 1,000 population in all OECD countries increased from 0.8 to 0.9 (+22 %). In countries based on the Bismarckian system, the average number of practising physiotherapists rose from 19,562 to 32,800 (+68 %), whereas in countries based on the Beveridge system the increase was from 6,402 to 19,478 (+204 %) in the period between 2000 and 2015. During the period between 2000 and 2015, countries employing the Bismarckian system showed a higher increase in the number of practising physiotherapists than countries using the Beveridge model. The difference was not significant.