Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice of General Practitioners Toward the Rehabilitation Field and Team Experts in Shiraz, Iran, in 2018

Background: General practitioners (GP) are the keystones in the process of referring patients in Iran. To refer patients to rehabilitation experts effectively and accurately, GPs need to be equipped with knowledge and understanding of physical medicine and rehabilitation (PMR) and its roles and have a positive attitude toward collaborating with rehabilitation teams. Objectives: The current study aimed at evaluating the knowledge, attitude, and practice (KAP) of GPs in Shiraz, Iran, toward the rehabilitation field and teamwork. Methods: The current cross sectional study assessed the KAP of GPs working in public and private health sectors in Shiraz, Iran, in 2018 via a researcher-made questionnaire. Participants were recruited using the stratified random sampling method. Results: A total of 200 GPs completed the study. The mean score of knowledge was 13.54 ± 2.68 (ranging from 0 to 24), and the mean score of attitude 10.84 ± 2.47 (ranging from 0 to 20). Regarding practice, none of the participants (0%) had a monthly average of more than five referrals to a physiatrist. Thirty-eight (19%) respondents were interested in choosing PMR as a specialty. Conclusions: According to the current study findings, GPs in Shiraz, Iran, are not equipped with adequate knowledge of rehabilitation and have a moderate attitude toward collaborating with a rehabilitation team. GPs rarely use PMR consultations for their patients’ complications. Policymakers should advocate for a higher level of collaboration between GPs and rehabilitation teams and find ways to better familiarize healthcare providers with PMR.