Descriptive cross-sectional study reveals geographical inequalities in PMR practice and workforce shortages in India.
Key Points
Determine the distribution and concentration of practicing physiatrists in India, along with their subspecialty domains.
Cross-sectional survey conducted among physiatrists in India via Google Forms and WhatsApp groups.
Survey included questions on practice location, work setting, and subspecialty areas.
Data collected from 23 states and union territories, with 345 responses (35% of registered physiatrists).
Responses reported the highest concentration of physiatrists in Kerala (n=123, 35.7%), Tamil Nadu (n=41, 11.9%), and Karnataka (n=39, 11.3%).
53% of physiatrists work in government settings, while 47% work privately or independently.
Notable practice areas include pain and musculoskeletal rehabilitation, neurorehabilitation, and emerging fields like cancer rehabilitation and virtual reality applications.