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118 APPENDICES Physiotherapy KCE reports vol. B
The agreement / non-agreement of the physiotherapists to participate to another study intended to
investigate the feasibility of a physiotherapeutic nomenclature based on the functional assessment.
Physiotherapists that give their consent to participate to such study were asked to provide their
surname, forename, address, phone number, e-mail, and the time at which they are available. This
information is not considered in the present project but could be useful in the achievement of a
subsequent study intended to investigate the feasibility of a physiotherapeutic nomenclature based on
the functional assessment.
Data collection
The questionnaire and a pre-stamped envelope were sent to the 2000 sampled physiotherapists in their own
language in April 2006. Data collection was therefore obtained using a postal sending without any reminder.
1.1.3 Data analysis
All information collected in the questionnaires were coded by two certified physiotherapists. Reasons for
treatment were coded using two well-known international classifications, namely the International
Classification of Primary Care 2 nd Edition (ICPC-2) and the International Statistical Classification of Diseases
and Related Health Problems 10 th Revision (ICD-10). The data were analysed using the SigmaStat for
Windows Version 3.11 computer software (Systat Software Inc.). Data analysis included descriptive statistics,
tests of comparison of means (Mann-Whitney Rank Sum tests), and tests of comparison of
frequencies/rates/proportions (Chi-Square tests and z-tests). The alpha level of significance was fixed at 0.05.
Detailed statistical analyses are given in Appendix 4.C.
1.2. RESULTS
1.2.1. Response rate and representativeness of the respondents
A total of 367 completed questionnaires were returned leading to a response rate of 18%. On the contrary,
1599 questionnaires were not returned, that is, a non-response rate of 80%. Finally, 34 questionnaires (i.e., 2%)
were returned but were not completed for diverse reasons: change of address (n = 28), retired
physiotherapist (n = 3), unfitness for work (n = 1), maternity leaves (n = 1), and in practice in another country
than Belgium (n = 1). Both non-returned questionnairess and non-completed but returned questionnaires
were considered as non-respondents data. The description of respondents and non-respondents is presented
in Table 4.1. No significant difference (p > 0.05) was observed between respondents and non-respondents with
regard to age, sex, linguistic role, and Belgian provinces. Figure 4.1 illustrates the distribution of
physiotherapists according to Belgian provinces for both respondents and non-respondents.
Moreover, no significant difference (p > 0.05) was observed between respondents and sampling frame (see
Appendix 4.D) indicating that the respondents are similar to the sampling frame (i.e., Belgian physiotherapists
having a minimum of practice in ambulatory care) with regard to age, sex, linguistic role, and geographical
situation. Note that no significant difference (p > 0.05) was observed between respondents and sample (see
Appendix 4.E) nor between sampling frame and sample (see Appendix 4.F).