“We collaboratively create mobility discharge goals”—an interpretive description study of Nigerian physiotherapists’ role in hospital discharge for older adults with mobility limitations

Abstract

PURPOSE: To explore Nigerian physiotherapists' (PTs) perspectives on competency-based roles in hospital discharge and the factors that facilitate or constrain their involvement for older adults with mobility limitations. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Guided by Interpretive Description, we purposively sampled 26 Nigerian PTs (17 males, 9 females; 5-32 years of experience) from two hospitals with geriatric units. We conducted 45-60-minute semi-structured interviews in person or on Zoom. Interviews were audio-recorded and analyzed using interpretive description with borrowing techniques and multiple coders. RESULTS: A central theme, Competency-based Professional Identity, extends PTs' roles beyond traditional inpatient/outpatient settings. Three subthemes emerged: (a) Experts in Continuous, Integrated, and Iterative Mobility Surveillance and Monitoring; (b) Educators for Patients, Family Members, and Interprofessional Team Members; (c) Real-Time Collaborators to Enhance Continuity of Care. PTs position themselves as mobility experts who collaboratively set discharge mobility goals on admission, hospitalization, and discharge to ensure ongoing mobility monitoring after discharge. Their educator role promotes adherence to prescribed mobility interventions, while their real-time coordinator function is enhanced in Nigeria, where paid, patient-initiated home visits enable more frequent contact and allow PTs to serve as primary informants to the care team regarding progress. CONCLUSION: Findings support competency-based PT roles in discharge planning.