Work productivity of physical therapists providing tele-physical therapy

Objectives: Evidence-based practices demonstrate that tele-physical therapy is comparable to conventional forms of physical therapy sessions, but the work productivity of therapists still needs to be calculated. This study aimed to measure the work productivity of physical therapists who provide tele-physical therapy using time-based metrics of their work efficiency and performance-based revenue data over a 2-month period. Methods: A total of 199 licensed physical therapists, with at least 6 months of experience in tele-physical therapy, were contacted online. After obtaining consent, the participants received a data collection form to be filled out for 14 consecutive days in 1 month and then again for 14 consecutive days in the 2 nd month. The data collection form consisted of demographic data, including age, sex, qualification, work experience, the record of therapists’ time spent online and with patients in minutes, and their exemplary and typical revenue generation. Results: The mean age of physical therapists was 31.77 ± 4.88, with 130 males and 69 females from 21 different cities in Pakistan. The mean average efficiency for the first 2 weeks was 59.17% ± 15.20, and that for the second 2 weeks was 61.22% ± 13.43. Paired sample t -tests showed a significant difference in average efficiency between the two 2-week periods (mean difference = 2.04%, 95% CI [0.45%, 3.64%], P = 0.012). Multiple regression analysis revealed that demographic factors had a slight influence on efficiency. Conclusion: The work productivity of therapists providing tele-physical therapy was estimated to be in the range of 59–61%.