KUMJ | VOL. 23 | NO. 4 | ISSUE 92 | OCTOBER-DECEMBER

Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice of Multidisciplinary Rehabilitation among Health Professionals in Kavre, Nepal
Panthee A, Timalsina S

Abstract:
Background Rehabilitation services are vital in improving the quality of life for people with disabilities in Nepal, where there is a prolonged effect of civil conflict and frequent natural disasters. To refer patients to rehabilitation specialists, health professionals should be equipped with knowledge and should have a positive attitude towards multidisciplinary rehabilitation. However, information on the knowledge, attitude, and practice (KAP) of health professionals in Nepal regarding multidisciplinary rehabilitation is limited. Objective To determine the level of knowledge, attitude, and practice of multidisciplinary rehabilitation among health professionals. Method A cross-sectional study was conducted across three hospitals in the Kavre district involving 118 various health professionals. A self-administered questionnaire was used to measure knowledge, attitude, and practice. Knowledge scores ranged from 0 to 24 (≤ 8: low, 9-16: moderate, > 16: high) and attitude scores from 0 to 20 (≤ 6: low, 7-14: moderate, > 14: high). Data were analyzed using SPSS version 26, employing descriptive statistics and non-parametric tests. Result The mean knowledge score was 17.77 ± 4.91, with 72% of participants demonstrating a high level of knowledge in multidisciplinary rehabilitation. The mean attitude score was 16.22 ± 3.23, with 74% rating high positive attitudes. Regarding practice, 50% of participants referred more than five patients to physiotherapists monthly, while 79.4% did not refer any patients to physiatrists monthly. Conclusion Health professionals in the Kavre district exhibit generally high knowledge and positive attitudes towards multidisciplinary rehabilitation. Nonetheless, referral patterns indicate underutilization of physiatrists and speech therapists, suggesting areas for targeted interventions to improve multidisciplinary rehabilitation services accessibility in Nepal.
Keyword : Knowledge, attitudes, practice; Multidisciplinary cooperation; Rehabilitation