Patient preferences for gender-concordant physiotherapists in stroke rehabilitation: A cross-sectional study

Objectives: To investigate patient perspectives on the gender of physiotherapists in stroke rehabilitation.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among a diverse group of patients with stroke (N = 143) who required manual assistance with transfer and ambulation. Participants were asked about their preferences for the gender of their physiotherapist and responses were categorized as male physiotherapist, female physiotherapist, or gender doesn't matter.

Results: A significant proportion of participants (24-38 %) showed a preference for gender-concordant physiotherapists (p < 0.01). Women had a higher preference for gender-concordant physiotherapists compared to men. Specifically, 3 to 4 out of 10 women (32-38 %) preferred physiotherapists of the same gender, while 5 to 6 out of 10 (51-57 %) indicated that the gender of the physiotherapist didn't matter to them (p < 0.01).

Conclusions: This study highlights the diverse perspectives on the importance of physiotherapist gender among patients with stroke. While gender preferences may influence patient comfort and engagement in therapy, these preferences are not universal and should be considered within a broader context of patient-centered care.

Practice implications: Rehabilitation programs should strive to be sensitive to patient preferences while balancing these preferences with the availability of skilled therapists and the operational constraints of clinical settings.