| Context / Setting | Definition of rural | Sample | Characteristics of rural practice / rural practitioners |
---|---|---|---|---|
Bent 1999 | Central Australia | Central Australia, Northern Territory considered to be remote | 17 OTs, PTs, SLP; excluded private practice, management or consultants | Large clinical caseloads, large geographical area, variety of age groups and conditions |
Butler & Sheppard 1999 | Australia | Rural defined as < 25000 | 58 PTs graduated within 2 years; (18 in rural and 40 in metropolitan areas) | More likely to be sole charge, less professional support, greater role as educator |
Mills & Millsteed 2002 | Australia | Broad definitions cited and used | 10 OTs previously in rural practice; purposive sample and snowball | Breadth and depth of professional knowledge gained useful in all areas/settings of practice |
Lee & MacKenzie 2003 | New South Wales, Australia | Classification based on density and distance | 5 OT new graduates, (4 in public practice and 1 in private) | Varied caseload, limited resources, limited support, greater interactions with clients and integration into community, professionals require independence & self-confidence |
Denman & Shaddock 2004 | New South Wales, Australia | Work location > 1 hour drive from a metropolitan region (<250,000) | Focus group of 1 OT, 2,PT, 2 SLP; 31, surveys returned from 9 OTs, 7 PTs, 13 SLP. Interviews with 1 SLP, 2 mangers working in departments providing disabilities services | None given |
Steenbergen & MacKenzie 2004 | New South Wales, Australia | Participants decided | 9 OTs in 1st year practice in rural; (7 public and 2 private sector) | None given |
Devine 2006 | Australia | Australian accessibility remote index | 6 OTs newly graduated; 4 OT instructors | Greater need for management skills, prioritization, time management |
Gillham et al 2007 | Victoria, Australia | Classification based on density and distance | 8 allied health profession students, 7 managers, 18 allied health professionals and 10 former staff; all public sector | None given |
Thomas & Clarke 2007 | Northern Territory, Australia | None given | 18 AHP including OTs and PTs | Skills and attributes for rural practice: being organized, creative, flexible, cooperative and collaborative, cultural awareness, communication, resourceful, reflective learner, networking, dual roles and responsibility |
Boshoff & Hartshorne 2008 | South Australia, Australia | Combined use of terms country and rural, no definitions | 18 OT managers completed Questionnaire; majority public sector | Multi-skilling of therapists, problem solving, |
Le & Kilpatrick 2008 | Australia | None given | 6 overseas born Australian trained health care professionals including 1 PT | None given |
Manahan et al 2009 | British Columbia, Canada | Broad definitions cited and used | 6 AHP including: 6 SLP, 4 OTs, 4 PTs; no indication whether public or private sector | Variety, change, dual relationships, challenges, need for creativity |