Focus on Physiotherapy for Infants in Norway, a Cross-sectional Study on Referral Practice, and planned Interventions.

Abstract

Abstract Background The Norwegian health care system has a mandatory program for close and systematically follow-up on all children, through the Maternity Care Units in the communities. This starts early in infancy and continue through childhood and the youth period. Additionally, some infants are referred to physiotherapists and manual therapists for several reasons. Little is known about who is referring them and the cause for the referral. In Norway, physiotherapists working with infants can be employed in Maternity Care Units or work in outpatient clinics both are within the community health care system. The main purpose of the present study was to explore the referral practice of infants to physiotherapy and compare those treated by physiotherapists and manual therapists in primary health care in Norway. Furthermore, to describe the planned interventions. Methods Cross-sectional study including 444 infants (age under 12 months) consulting either physiotherapists at maternity care units or manual therapists working in primary health care in Norway. Results Median age (range) of the infants was 14 (1, 52) and 344 were born at due date. Most infants examined by a physiotherapist were referred from other health personnel at the same MCU. More of the referrals to manual therapists were due to parental concern. Age at examination was between week 1-12 for 42% of the participants. Infants with motor development problems were equally distributed, but all premature babies in the present study were referred to the physiotherapists. Concerning interventions, both physiotherapists and manual therapists planned to use advice, handling and stimulation. More of the physiotherapists reported to focus on advice related to motor development and the use of prone play. Conclusion The infants in Norway are referred to physiotherapists/manual therapists for numerous reasons, and the distribution of diagnoses between the therapists seem reasonable. Infants are mostly referred by other health personnel but also because of parents’ own concern. Based on recommendations, some infants should be examined earlier.