Emerging trends in the profession of Biokinetics: A 10 year perspective (2007-2017)

Abstract

The consistent review of developing patterns in any healthcare profession is important, as this allows the determination of whether the current practitioner registry meets the healthcare demands, or whether the patient market has become oversaturated with practitioners. The South African Biokinetics profession has been established for 35 years, but as never undergone an examination of its developing trends. The aim was to determine the emerging trends of the HPCSA registered students-in-training, intern-biokineticists, and practitioners. Additionally to ascertain whether the practicing biokinetic registry is equitable to the potential South African private healthcare demand.  The HPCSA Annual Reports of 2012/2013 and 2016/2017 identified the number of students-in-training, intern-biokineticists and biokineticists. CMS reports of 2013-2015 identified the South African NCDs and HIV/AIDS prevalence. Annual students-in-training, intern-biokineticists, and practitioner registrations are growing at average of 4.6%, 43.5% and 6.5% per year. However, the conversion of intern-biokineticists to practitioners is progressively dwindling, nevertheless, this attrition of intern-biokineticists is not significant (p>0.05). Positive growth in students-in-training, intern-biokineticists and practitioners HPCSA registrations were identified. The number of practicing biokineticists in the South African private healthcare sector is reaching saturation point relating to the rehabilitation of NCDs and HIV/AIDS patients. Key words: Intern-biokineticist, attrition and growth.