Date of Completion

2024

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Bachelor of Science in Physical Therapy

Keywords

Home Health

Abstract

Home health care is a convenient and cost-effective way to receive services from skilled practitioners through one-on-one interaction within the patient or client’s home. This subcategory of healthcare typically caters to pediatric patients for early intervention, adult acute injury patients for short-term restorative services, adult long-term patients for personal care assistance, and adult terminally ill patients for palliative care. Considering this patient demographic and their respective needs, physical therapists are essential for the interdisciplinary home health care team. However, they experience many issues that affect and sometimes even hinder their services. This study identifies the professional issues that Filipino physical therapists experience in the home health therapy setting and how these issues affect their provision of care. This descriptive-

phenomenological study utilized snowball sampling to gather respondents and a semi-structured interview guide to gather data. The respondents in this study were licensed physical therapists currently practicing in the Philippine home health therapy setting. All the data in this study was processed following Moustakas’ and Giorgi’s qualification adaptation of the phenomenological study, including the eight stages of (1) transcription of interviews, (2) horizontalization, (3) open coding of significant statements, (4) reduction and elimination; (5) identification of themes and sub-themes; (6) writing of textural descriptions; (7) writing of structural descriptions; and (8) formulation of composite descriptions. This study examined several aspects of home health therapy management. In the 'Management of the Patient and Family' component, it was found that family support aids patient progress, but excessive involvement can be problematic. Financial status impacts the working environment, and matching patient needs is challenging. 'Management of Treatment Sessions', revealed that emergencies disrupt sessions, scheduling depends on availability, and communication is crucial. 'Management of Administrative Duties' had mixed results emphasizing documentation's importance but highlighting challenges in interprofessional collaboration and insurance coverage. 'Management of PT Resources', emphasized equipment investment and the role of experience. Overall, home health therapy was portrayed as demanding, requiring a delicate balance of skill, patience, and resilience. The study underscored therapists' adaptability in navigating challenges and leveraging past experiences for continuous improvement. It aspires to serve as a foundational reference for future research exploring the nuances and limitations of home health therapy.

First Advisor

Richmond E. Ordoñez

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