Towards developing a comprehensive treatment schedule for patients with cerebral palsy: factors influencing patient's adherence to physiotherapy treatment.

PURPOSE: This study is aimed to identify factors influencing patient's adherence to treatment in a bid to characterize the extent to which these factors are considered while developing a treatment schedule for patients with cerebral palsy in Nigeria.

METHODS

Descriptive cross-sectional study of physiotherapists involved in the care of patients with cerebral palsy. Factors influencing treatment adherence were assessed using a pre-tested, self-administered questionnaire. Participants were sampled from physiotherapists working at University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Enugu State, Nigeria. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics of percentage and frequencies.

RESULTS

A total of fifty three (31 males and 22 females) physiotherapists completed and returned the questionnaire. Participants (84.9%) agreed that patients occasionally forget to meet up with their appointment days; with majority of them agreeing that distance to the clinic and economic factor (cost of treatment and transportation) influence patient's adherence to treatment. Presence/absence of a caregiver and relationship between patients and their physiotherapist are also important factors influencing patient's treatment schedules.

CONCLUSION

Distance to the clinic when compared to other (economic, patient-therapist relationship) factors is the major barrier to patient's adherence to treatment and therefore should be considered while developing treatment schedules for patients with cerebral palsy.