Culturally responsive women’s and men’s health physiotherapy for Indigenous people living in regional, rural, and remote Australia

Introduction: Women’s and men’s health physiotherapy involve the assessment and management of pelvic floor dysfunction, incontinence, sexual dysfunction, pelvic pain, and specific areas related to each gender. Dysfunction with these areas has a large impact upon individuals and communities due to the cost of managing the conditions and their symptoms. Indigenous people have poorer health outcomes in Australia due to a lack of access to culturally responsive health care. The aim of this study was to explore if physiotherapists perceived that they could provide culturally responsive women’s and men’s health physiotherapy services to Indigenous people living in regional, rural, and remote Australia.

Method: An online survey was distributed through social media Facebook sites to physiotherapists who provide women’s and men’s health physiotherapy services to people living in regional, rural, and remote Australia, from August to November 2020. An inductive approach to analysis was used, linking data to themes.

Results: There were 33/54 responses to the question on culturally responsive care, with 29/54 respondents stating that they perceived that they provide culturally responsive women’s and men’s’ physiotherapy services. Examples of services included a weekly clinic with a local Aboriginal medical service, working with aboriginal liaison officers, participating in cultural training and developing culturally sensitive handouts and presentations. A lack of inclusion of culturally responsive practice in postgraduate education was stated as a barrier to gaining knowledge of how to provide services. Low referrals and a low up take of women’s and men’s’ physiotherapy services, lack of funding as well as a lack of culturally appropriate locations to provide services were described as limitations to providing women’s and men’s health physiotherapy services.

Conclusion: Physiotherapists may provide culturally responsive, but they feel their knowledge of how to provide culturally responsive services is limited. A lack of referrals and funding also appears to limit their ability to provide women’s and men’s health physiotherapy to all people in regional, rural, and remote Australia.

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