Arnadottir SA1
1University of Iceland, Department of Physical Therapy, Reykjavik, Iceland
Background: In Iceland, outpatient physical therapy is traditionally seen as a non-geriatric practice area. Yet, approximately 50% of Icelandic physical therapists work in outpatient clinics. Moreover, the Icelandic population is aging, as other populations in the world, and the life-expectancy at birth is high, 84 years among women and 80 for men.
Purpose: The purpose of this research was to describe 17 years of demographic changes among outpatient physical therapy clients and to identify if these changes reflect population aging.
Methods: This research was based on total population data from a national registry with information on all outpatient physical therapy clients (N=172071) reimbursed by Icelandic Health Insurances from 1999 to 2015; and general population data from the Statistics Iceland registry. Chi-square and Fisher´s exact tests were used to evaluate statistical significance of changes between two time-points (1999 and 2015). Regression analysis (general additive model and general linear model) was used to estimate yearly changes in the rate of older adults (65+ years) receiving outpatient physical therapy and to study if these were different from the general population changes.
Results: In 1999, older adults accounted for 18.9% of all outpatient physical therapy clients while in 2015 they had increased to 24.6% (OR=1.40, 95%CI=1.34-1.45). This increase cannot be fully explained by aging of the Icelandic population, as the proportion of older adults increased from 11.6% to 13.9% from 1999 to 2015. In 1999, 62.4%, 32.4%, and 5.2% of older adults receiving outpatient physical therapy were 65-74, 75-84, and 85+ years, respectively, and 35.5% were men (population proportions in 1999 for same age-groups were: 56.3%, 33.2%, and 10.5%; and 45% were men). In 2015, 53.7%, 34.4%, and 11.9% of older adults receiving outpatient physical therapy were 65-74, 75-84, and 85+ years, respectively, and 37.8% were men (population proportions in 2015 for same age groups were: 56.8%, 30.1%, and 13.1%; and 47.4% were men). Comparing older adults receiving outpatient physical therapy in 1999 to 2015 reveals, increasing proportion of clients being in older age-groups (p.001) and rising proportion of men (p=.007). Results from regression analysis, revealed a linear 3% increase each year from 1999 to 2015, in the rate of older adults receiving outpatient physical therapy. This yearly increase, was most prevalent in the oldest age-group (85+ years) and more in men than women (within all age-groups).
Conclusion(s): This case of Iceland, presents 17 years of constant growth in older adults seeking outpatient physical therapy. The growth is beyond the aging of the general Icelandic population.
Implications: These findings reinforce an urgent need to enhance the geriatric competence of outpatient physical therapists, who in their clinical practice frequently encounter older adults. This example from Iceland, may encourage other physical therapists to use available registry based data to discover potential need for changes in physical therapy services- and to turn such information into actions for improved health service.
Keywords: Demographic aging, outpatient service, registry-based research
Funding acknowledgements: The University of Iceland Research Fund.
Purpose: The purpose of this research was to describe 17 years of demographic changes among outpatient physical therapy clients and to identify if these changes reflect population aging.
Methods: This research was based on total population data from a national registry with information on all outpatient physical therapy clients (N=172071) reimbursed by Icelandic Health Insurances from 1999 to 2015; and general population data from the Statistics Iceland registry. Chi-square and Fisher´s exact tests were used to evaluate statistical significance of changes between two time-points (1999 and 2015). Regression analysis (general additive model and general linear model) was used to estimate yearly changes in the rate of older adults (65+ years) receiving outpatient physical therapy and to study if these were different from the general population changes.
Results: In 1999, older adults accounted for 18.9% of all outpatient physical therapy clients while in 2015 they had increased to 24.6% (OR=1.40, 95%CI=1.34-1.45). This increase cannot be fully explained by aging of the Icelandic population, as the proportion of older adults increased from 11.6% to 13.9% from 1999 to 2015. In 1999, 62.4%, 32.4%, and 5.2% of older adults receiving outpatient physical therapy were 65-74, 75-84, and 85+ years, respectively, and 35.5% were men (population proportions in 1999 for same age-groups were: 56.3%, 33.2%, and 10.5%; and 45% were men). In 2015, 53.7%, 34.4%, and 11.9% of older adults receiving outpatient physical therapy were 65-74, 75-84, and 85+ years, respectively, and 37.8% were men (population proportions in 2015 for same age groups were: 56.8%, 30.1%, and 13.1%; and 47.4% were men). Comparing older adults receiving outpatient physical therapy in 1999 to 2015 reveals, increasing proportion of clients being in older age-groups (p.001) and rising proportion of men (p=.007). Results from regression analysis, revealed a linear 3% increase each year from 1999 to 2015, in the rate of older adults receiving outpatient physical therapy. This yearly increase, was most prevalent in the oldest age-group (85+ years) and more in men than women (within all age-groups).
Conclusion(s): This case of Iceland, presents 17 years of constant growth in older adults seeking outpatient physical therapy. The growth is beyond the aging of the general Icelandic population.
Implications: These findings reinforce an urgent need to enhance the geriatric competence of outpatient physical therapists, who in their clinical practice frequently encounter older adults. This example from Iceland, may encourage other physical therapists to use available registry based data to discover potential need for changes in physical therapy services- and to turn such information into actions for improved health service.
Keywords: Demographic aging, outpatient service, registry-based research
Funding acknowledgements: The University of Iceland Research Fund.
Topic: Older people; Older people; Education
Ethics approval required: Yes
Institution: Icelandic National Bioethics Committee
Ethics committee: Icelandic National Bioethics Committee
Ethics number: VSNb2015100032/03.03
All authors, affiliations and abstracts have been published as submitted.
