Barriers, Capacity, and Workforce Readiness for Geriatric Rehabilitation Services in Egypt (Geriatric)

November 5, 2026 updated by: Mohammed Youssef Elhamrawy, Beni-Suef University

Barriers, Capacity, and Workforce Readiness for Geriatric Rehabilitation Services in Egypt: A National Cross-Sectional Survey

This study aims to assess the barriers, service capacity, infrastructure, workforce preparedness, and policy-related factors affecting the delivery of geriatric rehabilitation services in Egypt. As the Egyptian population ages, the demand for rehabilitation services for older adults continues to increase; however, limited information is available regarding the readiness of the healthcare system to meet these needs. This national cross-sectional survey will collect data from rehabilitation professionals, including physiotherapists, occupational therapists, speech-language pathologists, and rehabilitation administrators, to evaluate workforce training, service availability, equipment and infrastructure adequacy, accessibility challenges, and policy support for geriatric rehabilitation. Findings will help identify priority areas for workforce development, healthcare planning, and policy improvement to strengthen geriatric rehabilitation services across Egypt.

Study Overview

Status

Status

Indicates the current recruitment status or the expanded access status.
Not yet recruiting

Conditions

Conditions

The disease, disorder, syndrome, illness, or injury that is being studied. On ClinicalTrials.gov, conditions may also include other health-related issues, such as lifespan, quality of life, and health risks.

Detailed Description

Population aging is one of the most important demographic changes worldwide, with the number of people aged 60 years and older increasing rapidly. In Egypt, growing healthcare demands associated with aging require healthcare systems to expand and adapt rehabilitation services to address age-related conditions such as stroke, frailty, musculoskeletal disorders, falls, and chronic disease-related disability. Evidence indicates that geriatric rehabilitation can improve functional independence, reduce hospital readmissions, enhance quality of life, and decrease long-term healthcare costs. However, specialized geriatric rehabilitation services remain limited in many developing healthcare systems, including Egypt.

Previous studies have identified several barriers to effective geriatric rehabilitation, including insufficient workforce training, lack of specialized equipment and assistive technologies, inadequate awareness among patients and healthcare providers, financial constraints, and limited insurance coverage. Despite increasing demand for services, little national-level information exists regarding infrastructure, workforce readiness, service availability, and accessibility of geriatric rehabilitation services in Egypt. Most available evidence is institution-specific and does not provide a comprehensive overview of the national situation.

This study will employ a national cross-sectional survey design using a structured self-administered questionnaire. Eligible participants will include physiotherapists, occupational therapists, speech-language pathologists, and rehabilitation center administrators or managers who are currently practicing in Egypt and involved in rehabilitation service delivery. The survey will be distributed through professional societies, university hospitals, private healthcare networks, and Ministry of Health rehabilitation facilities using a multi-channel recruitment strategy designed to achieve representation across geographic regions and healthcare sectors.

The questionnaire will assess five major domains: demographic and professional characteristics, clinical workload, geriatric rehabilitation capacity, barriers to service delivery, and workforce training and policy support. Specific areas of investigation will include workforce competencies, availability of rehabilitation programs, use of standardized assessment tools, adequacy of equipment and assistive technologies, accessibility of facilities, waiting times, geographical disparities, patient adherence challenges, financial barriers, policy awareness, and organizational collaboration.

A target sample of at least 370 completed responses will be sought to provide adequate statistical power and representativeness. Quantitative data will be analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistical methods to identify differences across professional groups, healthcare sectors, and geographic regions. Qualitative responses will undergo thematic analysis to identify common perceptions and recommendations regarding service improvement.

The primary objective of the study is to systematically assess health system, workforce, infrastructural, and policy-related barriers affecting the accessibility and delivery of geriatric rehabilitation services in Egypt. Secondary objectives include evaluating workforce training and preparedness, assessing infrastructure and equipment availability, identifying urban-rural and public-private disparities in service provision, examining barriers to access and continuity of care, investigating policy and funding mechanisms, and identifying priority strategies for improving geriatric rehabilitation from the perspective of frontline rehabilitation professionals. The findings are expected to support evidence-based workforce planning, healthcare policy development, and strategic investment in geriatric rehabilitation services in Egypt.

Study Type

Study Type

Describes the nature of a clinical study. Study types include interventional studies (also called clinical trials), observational studies (including patient registries), and expanded access.
Observational

Enrollment (Estimated)

Enrollment

The number of participants in a clinical study. The "anticipated" enrollment is the target number of participants that the researchers need for the study.
400

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

The key requirements that people who want to participate in a clinical study must meet or the characteristics they must have. Eligibility criteria consist of both inclusion criteria (which are required for a person to participate in the study) and exclusion criteria (which prevent a person from participating). Types of eligibility criteria include whether a study accepts healthy volunteers, has age or age group requirements, or is limited by sex.

Ages Eligible for Study

22 years to 75 years (Adult, Older Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

N/A

Genders Eligible for Study

All

Sampling Method

Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

The study population includes physiotherapists, occupational therapists, speech-language pathologists, rehabilitation physicians, and rehabilitation administrators/managers currently practicing in Egypt and involved in rehabilitation service delivery, management, or planning across public, private, academic, and community healthcare settings.

Description

Inclusion Criteria

  • Licensed physiotherapists, occupational therapists, speech-language pathologists, rehabilitation physicians, or rehabilitation administrators/managers currently practicing in Egypt.
  • Actively involved in the delivery, management, or planning of rehabilitation services for older adults.
  • Aged 22 years or older.
  • Able to read and understand Arabic or English.
  • Willing to provide informed consent and complete the survey questionnaire.

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Rehabilitation professionals not currently practicing in Egypt.
  • Students, interns, or trainees who are not independently practicing healthcare professionals.
  • Individuals not involved in rehabilitation service delivery, management, or planning.
  • Survey responses with substantial missing data (e.g., more than 20% incomplete items).
  • Duplicate survey submissions from the same participant.

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Observational Models: OTHER
  • Time Perspectives: CROSS_SECTIONAL

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Primary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, the planned outcome measure that is the most important for evaluating the effect of an intervention/treatment. Most clinical studies have one primary outcome measure, but some have more than one.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Mean Perceived Barrier Severity Score Assessed Using the Geriatric Rehabilitation Barriers Questionnaire
Time Frame: baseline

Composite barrier severity score derived from responses to 13 barriers to geriatric rehabilitation service delivery, including workforce shortages, inadequate equipment, financial constraints, transportation difficulties, insurance limitations, awareness deficits, cultural barriers, and tele-rehabilitation limitations. Each item is rated on a 4-point Likert scale (0 = Not a Barrier to 3 = Severe Barrier). Higher scores indicate greater perceived barriers to geriatric rehabilitation service provision.
baseline

Secondary Outcome Measures

Secondary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, a planned outcome measure that is not as important as the primary outcome measure for evaluating the effect of an intervention but is still of interest. Most clinical studies have more than one secondary outcome measure.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Workforce Readiness and Geriatric Rehabilitation Training Score Measured Using the Workforce Preparedness Domain of the Geriatric Rehabilitation Survey
Time Frame: baseline

Assessed from participant responses regarding formal geriatric rehabilitation education, certification, workshop attendance, policy awareness, and perceived governmental and professional support. Higher scores indicate greater workforce preparedness for delivery of geriatric rehabilitation services.
baseline

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Sponsor

The organization or person who initiates the study and who has authority and control over the study.
Beni-Suef University

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Estimated)

Study Start

The actual date on which the first participant was enrolled in a clinical study. The "anticipated" study start date is the date that the researchers think will be the study start date.
November 10, 2026

Primary Completion (Estimated)

Primary Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention to collect final data for the primary outcome measure. Whether the clinical study ended according to the protocol or was terminated does not affect this date. For clinical studies with more than one primary outcome measure with different completion dates, this term refers to the date on which data collection is completed for all the primary outcome measures. The "anticipated" primary completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the primary completion date for the study.
May 30, 2027

Study Completion (Estimated)

Study Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention/treatment to collect final data for the primary outcome measures, secondary outcome measures, and adverse events (that is, the last participant's last visit). The "anticipated" study completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the study completion date.
July 30, 2027

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

First Submitted

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submitted a study record to ClinicalTrials.gov. There is typically a delay of a few days between the first submitted date and the record's availability on ClinicalTrials.gov (the first posted date).
October 26, 2026

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submits a study record that is consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. The sponsor or investigator may need to revise and submit a study record one or more times before NLM's QC review criteria are met. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
November 5, 2026

First Posted (Actual)

First Posted

The date on which the study record was first available on ClinicalTrials.gov after National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review has concluded. There is typically a delay of a few days between the date the study sponsor or investigator submitted the study record and the first posted date.
November 9, 2026

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

Last Update Posted

The most recent date on which changes to a study record were made available on ClinicalTrials.gov. There may be a delay between when the changes were submitted to ClinicalTrials.gov by the study's sponsor or investigator (the last update submitted date) and the last update posted date.
November 9, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator submitted changes to a study record that are consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
November 5, 2026

Last Verified

Last Verified

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator confirmed the information about a clinical study on ClinicalTrials.gov as accurate and current. If a study with a recruitment status of recruiting; not yet recruiting; or active, not recruiting has not been confirmed within the past 2 years, the study's recruitment status is shown as unknown.
November 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Other Study ID Numbers

Other Study ID Numbers

Identifiers or ID numbers other than the NCT number that are assigned to a clinical study by the study's sponsor, funders, or others. These numbers may include unique identifiers from other trial registries and National Institutes of Health grant numbers.
  • Barriers, geriatrics, egypt

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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