GPs' perceptions of physiotherapy services

Chronic non-specific low back pain (LBP) is a burden to society in terms of cost, loss of productivity and personal function. NHS physiotherapy services are seeking to deliver quality, effective care that meets the needs of the patient and other stakeholders. In the current climate services are facing pressure from cutbacks and competition for contracts. GPs are key referrers in to the service, therefore it is essential to seek their perceptions of current services provision. An exploratory study using semi-structured telephone interviews was conducted using a purposeful sample of 16 GPs. Ethical approval was sought and approved. Interviews were recorded, transcribed and checked for accuracy by a second party. Thematic analysis was done to identify key themes. Three key themes were identified: Patient waiting times, effectiveness and quality of the service and effective communication. Clinical and cost-effectiveness, service integration, use of appropriate data including outcome measures and the need for effective discharge summaries were highlighted as being instrumental in the chronic non-specific LBP service development.