Abstract
In response to questions in an editorial comment by L Davids in the South African Journal of Physiotherapy in February 1991, a questionnaire was sent out to 450 physiotherapists to determine their perception and understanding of rehabilitation. Respondents were also requested to define rehabilitation. The questionnaire was completed by 131 physiotherapists, giving a response rate of 29%. On analysis of the questionnaire it became evident that the respondents had a limited and superficial understanding of rehabilitation. Despite this, they were of the opinion that a large percentage of their work involved rehabilitation, and they were in fact, the most important members of the rehabilitation team.In view of the findings of the questionnaire the authors agree with Davids that more attention and effort should be devoted to the “rehabilitation scene”.
Highlights
In an editorial com m ent in the South A frican Journal of Physiotherapy (41(1):1991), Davids posed the following question:"W h ere do w e stand in this country with regard to rehabilita tion?" "D o we m anage to rehabilitate our patients fully?" "D o we even try?" She goes on to say that the time has com e for the profession to devote m ore attention and effort to the "rehabilita tion scene".1The authors w ere of the opinion that these questions could not be answ ered in a meaningful w ay unless physiotherapists could define rehabili ta tion accurately
This prom p ted us to do an assess ment of South African physiotherapists' understanding and per ception of rehabilitation, as well as their ability to define the term "rehabilitation"
It w as interesting to note that 82.3% (93) of the respondents felt that physiotherapists w ere in charge of rehabilitation (Figure 2) and 93% felt that the physiotherapists and the patient w ere the IMPORTANCE OF MEMBERS
Summary
In an editorial com m ent in the South A frican Journal of Physiotherapy (41(1):1991), Davids posed the following question:. The authors w ere of the opinion that these questions could not be answ ered in a meaningful w ay unless physiotherapists could define rehabili ta tion accurately. This prom p ted us to do an assess ment of South African physiotherapists' understanding and per ception of rehabilitation, as well as their ability to define the term "rehabilitation". The restorative phase embodies prim ary clinical treatm ent together w ith curative and preventative measures, the aim being to plan and achieve early discharge of the patient in an optimal functional state. The authors decided to evaluate the perception and definition of rehabilitation by physiotherapists in the sam ple, against this definition
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