An investigation of the factors affecting referral of patients between chiropractors and physiotherapists in the eThekwini municipality

Abstract

Objectives: Collaboration between health care practitioners has many advantages including a focus on disease prevention and health promotion, improving service access and the provision of multidisciplinary health care teams. To achieve this ideal health care provision, understanding the current landscape of referral/interaction between practitioners and the factors which influence this network are important. This enables effective delivery of health care demanded by the public. As identified factors impacting the inter-referral of patients between practitioners are contextual, they differ in different contexts. Thus, this study aimed to investigate the factors affecting the referral of patients between chiropractors and physiotherapists in the eThekwini municipality.