Graduation Year
2017
Document Type
Dissertation
Degree
D.P.H.
Degree Name
Doctor of Public Health (Dr.PH.)
Degree Granting Department
Health Policy and Management
Major Professor
Barbara Langland Orban, Ph.D.
Committee Member
Etienne Pracht, Ph.D.
Committee Member
John Large, Ph.D.
Committee Member
Ben Jacob, Ph.D.
Committee Member
John Childs, Ph.D.
Keywords
policy, hospitalization, physical therapist
Abstract
Purpose: The purpose of this work was identify key factors associated with inpatient physical therapy utilization and length of stay for patients with low back pain (LBP) in Florida hospitals.
Rationale: Little is known about factors associated with inpatient physical therapy or length of hospitalization for patients with LBP. This group of works identified the key factors associated with inpatient physical therapy and long lengths of hospitalization for this patient population. Since physical therapy and reduced length of stay are known cost-reducers, identifying key factors may represent significant cost savings to the health care system.
Methods: Several mixed method procedures were utilized to examine physical therapy utilization and length of hospitalization between the years of 1992 and 2014. Policy, patient and hospital characteristics, as well as, hospital procedures during a patient’s stay were examined as contributors to either physical therapy utilization or length of hospitalization.
Conclusion: Many factors are associated with inpatient physical therapy utilization and length of stay for patients with LBP in Florida hospitals.
Scholar Commons Citation
Watterson, Kyle A., "Physical Therapy Utilization and Length of Stay among Patients with Low Back Pain in Florida Hospitals" (2017). USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations.
https://digitalcommons.usf.edu/etd/6978
