Improving Access to Pelvic Health Physiotherapy for Endometriosis
For patients and families
In plain language
An automatic summary of structured registry data. It is an orientation aid, not a substitute for the official protocol or a physician assessment.
- What is being studied
- This is an observational study: the protocol does not assign a study treatment.
- Who it may be relevant to
- Registry conditions: Endometriosis. Basic parameters: 18 years — 45 years · Female.
- What needs checking
- Age, condition and sex are only basic indicators. Prior treatment, laboratory values and other mandatory requirements appear in the eligibility criteria below.
- Where it takes place
- Canada
- Next step
- Save the trial, show it to the treating physician, and confirm current recruitment with the study center. Costs, documents and travel →
Unsure about the terms? Read our patient guide →
Official title
Optimizing Care and Improving Access to Pelvic Health Physiotherapy for Women Living With Endometriosis: A Portrait of the Current Situation and Recommendations for Possible Solutions in Quebec (Canada)
Overview
This is a mixed-methods study aimed to generate new evidence to help optimize access to pelvic health physiotherapy (PHPT) for women living with endometriosis in the province of Quebec (Canada). Specifically, the objectives are to: Obj. 1: Understand the patient journey of women living with endometriosis, including their experiences accessing PHPT. Obj. 2: Describe current PHPT clinical practices and service delivery for women living with endometriosis in Quebec. Obj. 3: Identify barriers, facilitators and potential strategies to improve access to PHPT services and optimize the patient journey of women living with endometriosis in Quebec. Findings will inform clinical, organizational and policy recommendations to strengthen the integration of PHPT within multidisciplinary endometriosis care. The project is divided into three sequential parts: Part 1: Semi-structured individual interviews (open-ended questions) will be conducted with women living with endometriosis to explore their journey to obtain endometriosis care, experiences accessing PHPT and perceived barriers and facilitators. Approximately 15-20 participants will be recruited until data saturation is reached. Part 2: An online cross-sectional survey will be conducted among pelvic health physiotherapists practicing in the province of Quebec, Canada to describe current clinical practices, service delivery and challenges related to the management of women living with endometriosis. The minimum expected sample size is 225 physiotherapists . Part 3: Semi-structured focus groups (open-ended questions) will be conducted with women living with endometriosis, pelvic health physiotherapists, physicians and healthcare managers to identify and prioritize strategies to improve access to PHPT services. Approximately 24-32 participants will be recruited across four focus groups. Across all three parts, recruitment strategies will aim to ensure diversity in participant characteristics, including geographic region, sociodemographic characteristics and healthcare experiences, to capture a broad range of perspectives.
Detailed description
This study uses a mixed-methods design consisting of three complementary components: (1) qualitative semi-structured interviews, (2) a cross-sectional online survey, and (3) qualitative focus groups.
Primary outcome measures
- Patient journey and experiences of women living with endometriosis [Time frame: Baseline]
- Barriers to accessing pelvic health physiotherapy [Time frame: Baseline]
- Facilitators to accessing pelvic health physiotherapy [Time frame: Baseline]
- Pelvic health physiotherapy clinical practices and service delivery [Time frame: Baseline]
- Recommendations to improve access to pelvic health physiotherapy [Time frame: Baseline]
Eligibility criteria
Inclusion Criteria (part 1):
- Female (biological sex at birth)
- Aged between 18 and 45 years old
- Residing in the province of Quebec, Canada
- Able to speak and understand French
- Has a confirmed or suspected diagnosis of endometriosis
Inclusion Criteria (part 2):
- Licensed physiotherapist authorized to practice pelvic health physiotherapy in Quebec, Canada
- Currently practicing in the province of Quebec, Canada
- Provides pelvic health physiotherapy services to women experiencing symptoms associated with endometriosis
Inclusion Criteria (part 3):
Women living with endometriosis:
- Female (biological sex at birth)
- Aged between 18 and 45 years old
- Residing in the province of Quebec, Canada
- Able to speak and understand French
- Has a confirmed or suspected diagnosis of endometriosis
Healthcare providers/managers:
\- Has experience providing, coordinating, organizing or managing care for women with confirmed or suspected endometriosis in the province of Quebec, Canada
Criteria are shown verbatim from the registry (in English). Final eligibility is always assessed by the study center.
Healthy volunteers: No
Study design
- Observational model
- Other
Study locations
Canada · 1 center
- Centre hospitalier universitaire de Sherbrooke — Sherbrooke
Identifiers
NCT: NCT07731776 · MP-31-2026-6160