Table 4

Percentage distribution of profession of referring physicians for patients treated by a physical therapist in 2005, for Israel (Maccabi) and the Netherlands (LiPZ), for the total patient population, patients treated for their lumbar spine and patients with ankle sprain

Total population
Maccabi
LiPZ
p

GP
20.9
89.8
<0.001
Orthopaedist
67.4
3.8

Neurologist
1.5
0.6

Rheumatologist
0.4
0.2

Other
9.9
5.6





Number of patients (abs.)
99,541
12,193


Lumbar spine treated




GP
19.2
93.8
<0.001
Orthopaedist
73.3
0.4

Neurologist
0.6
0.6

Rheumatologist
0.2
0.0

Other
6.7
5.1





Number of patients (abs.)
22,166
2,057


Treated for ankle sprain




GP
8.7
95.5
<0.001
Orthopaedist
85.0
1.3

Neurologist
0.0
0.0

Rheumatologist
0.1
0.0

Other
6.2
3.2





Number of patients (abs.)
1,463
155


Swinkels et al. BMC Health Services Research 2008 8:163   doi:10.1186/1472-6963-8-163