Perceived challenges and solutions to providing rural physical therapy services: A qualitative inquiry of provider...

Persons living in rural areas face increased rates of multiple chronic health conditions and all-cause mortality. Physical therapy can positively impact disease prevention and wellness; however, a lack of rural providers limits access to physical therapy services and subsequent benefits in rural areas. This study aims to gain insights on physical therapists' experiences providing rural physical therapy services.

This qualitative study employed a phenomenological approach to capture the perspectives of physical therapists practicing in rural Alabama on providing healthcare services. Participants were recruited using convenience and snowball methods, and each participant completed a semi-structured telephone or Zoom interview. Interview data were coded independently by two separate members of the research team with subsequent group verification. Recruitment continued until saturation was achieved.

Three themes emerged from 15 participants: 1) System-wide challenges in rural healthcare; 2) Personal considerations in providing rural healthcare; and 3) Proposed solutions to identified challenges.

Participants identified inadequate staffing, reduced access to specialty services, and financial concerns as system-wide challenges. Personal considerations included professional isolation, expansive caseloads, and aversion to rural living as challenges, while community pride and responsibility were identified as personal benefits to providing rural healthcare. Proposed solutions included financial incentives for providers, physical therapy student exposure to rural settings, and use of telehealth services. Interactions between themes and subthemes emerged, highlighting potential factors contributing to difficulty adequately staffing rural physical therapists.