Attitudes and Beliefs of Physical Therapists in Saudi Arabia Regarding Direct Access and Scope of Practice

Purpose. This study aimed to better understand what practicing physical therapists know and believe about direct access (DA) and scope of practice (SOP) for physical therapy in Saudi Arabia (SA). Methods. A pilot study was first performed to ensure the clarity of the questions. Then, a cross-sectional survey was sent through emails and social media platforms including three main sections: demographics, opinions, and beliefs questions. Results. A total of 150 respondents met the inclusion criteria. About 55.3% of the participants reported never or rarely using an SOP document as a reference for knowing their practice. Moreover, nearly 48% learned about the SOP through an informal discussion. Only 24.7% of the participants correctly identified which practice setting DA is permitted. Most of the participants felt confident or strongly confident of their abilities to assess (67.3%) and treat (72%) patients without physicians’ referral. Around 84% of the participants agreed or strongly agreed that DA should be expanded to include all healthcare settings. Conclusion. We found that physical therapists are confident about their ability to treat and assess patients without physicians’ referrals. There is uncertainty about where DA is permitted in SA.