TRADITIONAL BONE SETTERS

PREFERENCE AND PATRONAGE

Abstract

Objectives: To evaluate the factors for preferring the traditional bone setters
by people. Study Design: Observational study. Setting: Department of Orthopedics and
Spine Surgery Hayatabad Medical Complex Peshawar. Period: October, 2013 to March, 2014.
Materials and Methods: Sixty consecutive patients who presented at orthopedics out-patient
clinic after attending Traditional Bone Setting Centers were recruited for the study. Information
about the patients’ bio data, mechanism of injury, who advised them to contact TBS and what
are the factors that compelled them to attend TBS were obtained and filled into prepared
proforma. The data obtained was recorded and analyzed on SPSS version 17.Results: The
mean age was 25.57 years with minimum age 5 years and maximum 65 years. Sixteen patients
were females and 44 were male. Two (3.3%) patients first attended Modern orthopedic services
(MOS) and 58(96.7%) patients attended TBS.47(78.3%) patients were taken by their own
immediate family members to TBS, 20% were referred by friends and 1.7% were self-referral.
Thirty seven (61.7%) opted for TBS because of their belief, 11(18.3%) considered this service
cheap, 7(11.7%) attended it because it is quick service and 5 (8.3%) reverted to TBS because
of attitude of hospital personals. Conclusion: A considerable of people still have great trust on
TBS regarding management of musculoskeletal problems. Belief is the most leading cause of
consulting traditional bonesetters, other causes include low cast, quick service and attitude of
hospital personnel.