How are you expected to treat patients in a country where the local language has no translation for the word "Physiotherapist" Their title literally means "Person who treats with movement".
Working in Phnom Penh, no body in the general population understood what a physiotherapist actually does. The only way people would attend our rehabilitation centre is if they were referred from a neighbouring hospital or if they heard via word of mouth from a patient of the centre. Subsequently the centre we worked at was under patronised, they provided FREE physiotherapy and there were not fully booked. At first it was hard to believe but the more i thought about it, the more it made perfect sense. It might sound far fetched but I believe that it correlates back to Australia.
I realised that as physiotherapists we have a responsibility to each other, to ensure people envisage physiotherapists as important and valuable members of the allied health team. APA and as individuals we will advertise the profession. However we must work hard not just to better ourselves but ensure we leave a positive impression on our patients so that they will talk about physiotherapist favourably in general discussion.
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